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4m. / J 

AN 

ANALYSIS 

OF THE 

MINERAL WATERS 

OF 

SARATOGA AND BALLSTON, 

WITH PRACTICAL REMARKS ON THEIR 

MEDICAL PROPERTIES; 

TOGETHER WITH A HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY AND SETTLE- 
MENT OF THESE CELEBRATED 

WATERING PLACES, 

*ND OBSERVATIONS ON THE 

GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY 

OF THE 

SURROUNDING COUNTRY. 



BY JOHN H. STEEL, M. D. 



u The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth, and he 
that is wise will not abhor them. — Bible. 



AN ENTIRE NEW WORK. 



Saratoga Sjmnss i 

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY G. M. DAVISON. 

183 1. 






^ 



vtf* 




Northern District of New-York, to wit: 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the thirteenth 
, day of June, Anno Domini, 1831, G. M. Davison, 
: of the said District, hath deposited in this office the 
" title of a book, the title of which is in the words 
following, to wit : 
An Analysis of the mineral waters of Saratoga and Ballston, 
with practical remarks on their medical properties ; together 
with a history of the discovery and settlement of these celebra- 
ted watering places, and observations on the geology and min- 
eralogy of the surrounding country. By John H. Steel, M. D. 
" The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth, and he 
that is wise will not abhor them." — Bible. 

The right whereof he claims as proprietor, in conformity 
with an act of Congress, entitled An act to amend the several 
acts respecting copy-rights. 

RUTGER B. MILLER, 
Clerk of the Northern District of New-York. 



TO THE 

NEW-YORK 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY; 

Formed for the express purpose of 
eliciting and preserving whatever 
may relate to the Physical History of 
the state? this Analysis of some of the 
most distinguished and celebrated 
Mineral Waters which our country 
any where affords? is respectfully in- 
scribed? 

By the 

AUTHOR. 

Saratoga Springs, July 1 3 1831. 



PREFACE. 

In presenting to the public a new work 
on the mineral waters of Saratoga, some 
explanation may be deemed necessary. 

These waters had been considerably 
resorted to, and had become quite cele- 
brated for their medicinal qualities, par- 
ticularly about the country, long before 
any thing more was known of their prop- 
erties than what was gathered from the 
effects which they produced, when taken 
into the stomach. 

Dr. Seaman, of the city of New-York, 
who visited the place as early as 1793, 
undertook, while on the spot, some chem- 
ical experiments on the water, in order to 
determine its real character; and to him 
the public are indebted for the first scien- 
tific effort ever made to elucidate its true 
properties. His publication contained 
much useful information on the subject, 
but his experiments were limited to only 
one of the fountains, and his deductions 
were not always conclusive. Several other 

a2 



M PREFACE. 

scientific notices of the waters were sub- 
sequently published by able chemists, but 
they were not more successful in produ- 
cing satisfactory results ; and, although 
they went far to corroborate the opinions 
and views of the Doctor, they afforded no 
additional information to that which he 
had previously acquired ; so that the dis- 
creet physician, when called upon to di- 
rect the use of the waters, was frequent- 
ly at a loss, and for the want of proper in- 
formation, unable to decide, in many ca- 
ses, as to the propriety or impropriety of 
prescribing their use. 

In the summer of 1817, 1 first published 
some observations on the mineral waters 
of Saratoga and Ballston. At that time, I 
had resided at the Springs something over 
ten years, and having been, during that 
period, often consulted in relation to the 
qualities and uses of the waters in various 
diseases, I felt compelled to engage in a 
course of inquiries, which w r ould lead to a 
better and more satisfactory understand- 
ing of the general character and compar- 



PREFACE. YII 



ative properties of the different fountains; 
and if the little work, which resulted from 
the undertaking at that time, was not suf- 
ficiently minute and discriminating in its 
details to satisfy the profound chemist, it 
was thought, at least, to contain all that 
was important for the instruction of the 
physician, or the benefit of his invalid 
patient. 

Since that period, several analyses of 
the most celebrated fountains have at dif- 
ferent times appeared, under the sanction 
of names calculated to inspire the fullest 
confidence in their correctness; but the 
glaring discrepancies manifested in the re- 
sults, have tended greatly to lessen that 
confidence, and to involve the subject 
in uncertainty and doubt. 

It therefore became necessary that a 
more careful and accurate investigation 
of the properties of these waters should 
be made, in a way and manner calculated 
to establish their real character, and, if 
possible, to settle the public mind on the 
subject. 



VIII PREFACE. 

Having spent more than twenty years 
of ray professional life on the spot, and 
having been compelled to devote almost 
the whole of my attention, particularly 
during the drinking season, to the opera- 
tion and effects of the waters, in the vari- 
ous and complicated diseases which have, 
at different times, presented themselves at 
the Springs, I was impelled, by a sense of 
duty which I owed to the public, as well 
as to the very respectable individuals who 
have heretofore honored me with their 
attentions, to make the subject an object 
of ray particular and minute investigation; 
and for several years past, the examina- 
tion has employed the whole of my leis- 
ure hours. 

Availing myself of all the sources of in- 
formation which the present state of sci- 
ence on this subject afforded, I commen- 
ced the arduous undertaking, with a de- 
termination that no labor, at least, should 
deter me from arriving at as great a degree 
of accuracy as the subject would permit; 
and the result of a patient and laborious 



PREFACE. IX 

investigation is now presented to the pub- 
lic, under an impression that the accuracy 
of the conclusions will not be controvert- 
ed by those who have the means, and will 
take the trouble to examine for them- 
selves. 

By comparing the present analysis of 
the waters of the several springs, with that 
which I formerly published, a considera- 
ble difference in the results will be read- 
ily discovered. This, however, must not 
be imputed to any alteration or change 
in the original properties of the waters, 
but is accounted for, in a great measure, 
by the different state or condition in which 
the various saline ingredients, afforded by 
the water, were, by the different process- 
es, obtained. In my former analysis the 
whole of the saline residuum was estima- 
ted while in a state of crvstalization ; in 
the present instance, the quantities are 
calculated in a perfectly dry state. There 
are other differences of a less important 
character, which unquestionably arise 
from errors committed in the former analy- 



X PREFACE. 

sis, which, I am now happy in the opportu- 
nity to acknowledge, as well as to correct. 

Under an impression that every thing 
relating to the early history and settle- 
ment of the springs, is becoming every day 
more and more interesting, as the place 
advances in importance, I have endeav- 
ored to give as full and perfect an ac- 
count of it as I have been able to collect. 
For this, I am greatly indebted to a num- 
ber of individuals ; particularly to John 
K. Beekman, Esq. of New-York, who 
kindly furnished me with several valuable 
documents, in relation to the early history 
of the celebrated patent Kayaderosseras. 

I am likewise under particular obliga- 
tions to Dr. Samuel Freeman, of Ballston 
Spa, for the particulars in relation to the 
history of that place, as well as for many 
useful practical observations on the med- 
ical properties of the waters. Dr. Free- 
man has resided on the spot for a number 
of years, and his knowledge and experi- 
ence entitle his opinions to the fullest con- 
fidence and respect. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

History of the Springs, - 13 

Geological Remarks on the County of Saratoga,. ... 47 

Examination of the Waters, 73 

Description of the Springs, 77 

Congress Spring, id 

Preliminary Observations, * 82 

Experiments with tests, 84 

Inferences, • 89 

Examination of the gaseous contents of the water, 92 

Examination of the solid contents of the water, 99 

Recapitulation, 112 

Medical History, 117 

Columbian Spring, 127 

Washington Spring, . , 131 

Hamilton Spring, 134 

Flat Rock Spring, 138 

High Rock Spring, 141 

President Spring, 148 

Red Spring, 149 

Ten Springs, 151 

Ellis' Spring, ^ 153 

Quaker Springs, 156 

Ballston Spa, 157 

Sans Souci Spring, 169 

Low's Spring, , 172 

Park Spring, 173 

Public Well, 174 

New Washington Spring, 176 

Sulphureous Waters, 178 



XII CONTENTS. 

Practical Observations on the Medical properties of 

the waters, • • 183 

Bilious Complaints, 185 

Dyspepsia, • 186 

Calculous and Nephritic complaints, , 192 

Chronic Rheumatism, . . . • 193 

Anthritis, or Gout, id 

Phagedenic, or ill-conditioned Ulcers, 194 

Cutaneous Eruptions, id 

Scrofula, 195 

Dropsy, 199 

Paralysis, 200 

Chlorosis, id 

Phthisis, 201 

Season suitable for drinking the waters, . • id 

Closing remarks,. • id 



ANALYSIS, 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. , 

Saratoga is, in all probability, a corruption of 
the Indian word, Sah-rah-ka, which is said to 
mean " the side-hill," and was applied by the na- 
tives more particularly to that part of the coun- 
try which lies between the Lake and the Hudson, 
where the application of the term is amply justified 
in the appearance of the country. 

The whale country which seems to have inherit- 
ed the name is of much greater extent. It embra- 
ces a tract of country which, commencing at the 
mouth of the Mohawk river, stretches to the north 
along the windings of the west bank of the Hud- 
son for more than seventy miles, to the county of 
Warren ; thence in a westerly direction to the east 
bounds of the county of Hamilton, about fifteen 
miles ; from this spot the line proceeds in a south- 
erly direction along the whole extent of the east 

B 



14 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

line of the county of Montgomery, about thirty 
miles, to the north line of the county of Schenec- 
tady ; thence along the line of Schenectady to the 
Mohawk river, which separates it from the county 
of Albany, and then along the course of the Mo- 
hawk to the place of beginning, about twenty-five 
miles. 

These lines include an area of about eight hun- 
dred square miles, and a population at this time of 
about forty thousand souls. 

The greater part of the lands included in this 
tract were originally granted by the crown of Eng- 
land to a company of thirteen proprietors, under 
the title of the Patent of Kayadaroseros. 

The Van. Schaick's Patent, so termed from the 
name of the person to whom it was granted, was 
of an earlier date, and included the present town 
of Waterford and a considerable tract of country 
adjoining. The Saratoga Patent was next in or- 
der, and embraced an extent of six miles square 
along the Hudson some miles above Van Schaick's 
Patent. The Apple Patent was still later ; it was 
granted to one William Apple, and was located on 
the Mohawk, and extended " three miles back into 
the woods" towards Ballston Lake. 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 15 

The history of these grants, their settlement and 
the subsequent intercourse with the natives, would 
form an interesting document in the history of the 
country. Even at this late period, many important 
facts, hitherto undisclosed, might be brought to 
light from living witnesses, which a few more years 
will place beyond the power of the historian to re- 
cover. 

The mineral waters which form the subject of 
the ensuing treatise being situated principally in 
the great Patent of Kayaderosseras, |it will not, I 
trust, be deemed uninteresting by most readers to 
be made acquainted with the history of that grant, 
particularly as it may tend to disclose the true es- 
timate which the native proprietors placed upon 
these " health preserving fountains," if indeed they 
were known to them at all. 

The first grant, of which there is any record, of 
land in what is now called the Patent of Kayade- 
rosseras, in the county of Saratoga, was made by 
two Indians, who, in the conveyance which they 
gave, styled themselves " Maquaes Indians, own- 
ers and native proprietors of the land." They are 
thus described in the original indenture : " Joseph, 
the Indian, by them called Te-jon-nin-ho-ge, and 



16 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

Hendrick,* by them called De-han-och-rak-has, 
principal owners," &c. 

This conveyance was made " for and in consid- 
eration of divers goods" to David Schuyler and 
Robert Livingston, junior, yeomen of the city of 
Albany, and is dated at Albany, the twenty-sixth 
day of August, in the first year of her majesty's 
reign, (Queen Anne,) Anno Domini, 1702. The 
boundaries are thus described : 

" Beginning on the west side of Hudson's river 
above Sar-ogh-to-ge's Patent ; beginning opposite 
the creek, called by the Indians, Ti-on-un-do-ga- 
he, and running along said side of the river above 
the second carrying place to a small island in said 
river,f and westward into the woods as far as their 
property belongs, together with all and singu- 
lar " &c. 



* This Hendrick is the same who distinguished himself in the 
subsequent wars under General William Johnson, and was slain 
with Colonel Williams, in 1755, in an attack on a body of French 
and Indians near Bloody Pond, not far from the head of Lake 
George, being then upwards of seventy years old. 

t This spot is described in another place thus : " From the 
north bounds of the said Sarogtoge's Patent to a place above 
the falls that lieth in Hudson river above the Carrying Place that 
goes over to the Wood Creek which leads the way to Canada." 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 17 

In the spring following, Samson Shelton B rough- 
ton, Esquire, attorney-general of the province, in 
behalf of himself and company, obtained a licence 
to purchase the " tract of vacant and unappropria- 
ted land in the county of Albany, called or known 
by the Indian name of Kayadoroseros, adjoining 
to the north bounds of Schonectady on the east 
side thereof, to the west bounds of Soroctoga on the 
north side thereof, and to Albany river on the west 
side thereof, of the native Indians and proprietors 
thereof, for their cultivation and improvement" 

This licence was granted by his excellency, Ed- 
ward Viscount Congbury, captain-general and go- 
vernor-in-chief of the province of New-York and 
territories depending thereon in America, and 
vice-admiral of the same. It is dated at Fort Ann, 
in council, in the city of New-York, the twenty- 
second day of April, A. D. 1703. 

In pursuance of this licence a purchase was ef- 
fected of the Indians, Joseph, Hendrick, Corne- 
lis, Gideon and Amus, owners, proprietors and 
Ci native Maquaes Indians and sachems, in be- 
half of themselves and all their nation, for and in 
consideration of the sum of sixty pounds ($150) 
current money of the province of New-York, and 
b2 



18 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

of sundry goods to them in hand paid," &e. "by 
Samson Shelton Broughton, Esquire, attorney- 
general of the province, Peter Fauconnier, Es- 
quire, late commissioner of the customs, and Nan- 
ing Hermanse Visher, of the city of Albany, mari- 
ner, for themselves and company." The bounds 
of the tract thus granted are summed up and reca- 
pitulated in the original deed thus : 

" The aforesaid tract of land being bounded be- 
low the Jill-Place and Schonectady river on the 
west by said river, then by the said township's 
bounds round about to said river again, and still 
westward above the said town by the said river 
again for eight miles at least above Twek-to-non- 
do-hill ; thence by a north and northeasterly line 
to the headmost spring of the stream called Kaya- 
daroseras river, and still northerly by a north line 
continued to be run eight miles further up into the 
woods, and yet still northerly by a north or north- 
easterly line run from thence to Albany river above 
Sar-og-to-ge, by the township of Sorogtoge, and 
round the same to said river again ; thence by said 
river to Anthony Van Schaick's northeasterly cor- 
ner, and southerly by a line run from thence to the 
northwesterly corner of Nestiguione (Niskayuna) 
on Schonectady river, the place of beginning." 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 19 

This deed is dated at Albany, the sixth day of 
October, in the third year of her majesty's reign, A. 
D. 1704, and is signed by all the sachems above 
named, except Cornelis, whose name does not ap- 
pear among the signatures. 

Immediately after this, a relinquishment of the 
claim of Schuyler and Livingston was procured by 
Visher in behalf of the company, for which they 
were to receive a certain portion of the lands when 
the patent should be perfected, or in lieu thereof 
the sum of jCIOO ($250) in money. On the back 
of this agreement is endorsed a receipt signed by 
Livingston and Schuyler, for £90 in full satisfac- 
tion for the condition. 

These preliminaries being adjusted, the patent 
was sued for and finally obtained. It was granted 
by Queen Anne in the seventh year of her reign, 
and is dated the second day of November, A. D. 
1708. The grant was to " her loving subjects, 
Naning Hermanse, Johannes Beekman, Rip Van 
Dam, Ann Bridges, May Bickley, Peter Faucon- 
nier, Adrian Hogelandt, Johannes Fisher, John 
Tuder, Joris Hogelandt, John Stevens, John Tat- 
ham and Samson Broughton," and is " for all that 
tract of land situated, lying and being in the coun- 



20 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

ty of Albany, called Kayadoroses, alias Queensbo- 
rough" 

The bounds of this extensive tract of land which 
has become so interesting to the present genera- 
tion, are here copied verbatim from the original 
patent : 

" Beginning at a place on Schonectady river* 
about three miles distant from the southwesterly 
corner of the bounds of Nastiguione, the said place 
being the southwesterly corner of the patent lately 
granted to Naning Harmense, Peter Fauconnier 
and others; thence along the said Schonectady 
river, westerly to the southeasterly corner of a pat- 
ent lately granted to William Apple ; thence along 
the easterly, northerly and westerly line of the said 
Apple's Patent down to the above said river ; 
thence to the Schonectady bounds of the south- 
easterly corner of the said patent, on the said riv- 
er, so along the easterly, northerly and westerly 
bounds thereof down to the said river again ; 
thence along the said river up westerly to the south- 
easterly bounds of a tract of land lately granted 
to Ebenezer Wilson and John Abel, and so along 



* This river in another place is styled " Schonectady, Mo- 
haks, or Maqueas river." 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 21 

the said patent round to the southwesterly corner 
thereof on the said Schonectady river to a place or 
hill called Twadononda, being five miles distant, or 
thereabouts, from the said southwesterly corner of 
the said Wilson's and Abel's Patent ; thence along 
northerly to the northwestmost head of a creek 
called Kayadoroses, about fourteen miles, more or 
less ; thence eight miles more northerly ; thence 
easterly or northeasterly to the thirds falls on Alba- 
ny river, about twenty miles, more or less ; thence 
along the said river down southerly to the north- 
easterly bounds of Saroghtoge ; thence along the 
said Saroghtoge's northerly, westerly and southerly 
bounds on the said river ; thence to the northeast- 
erly corner of Anthony Van Schaick's land on the 
said river, so northerly and westerly along the said 
Van Schaick's Patent to the northeast corner of the 
above said patent granted to Naning Harmense, 
Fauconnier and others ; thence along the norther- 
ly and westerly bounds thereof down to the above 
said river of Schonectady, being the place where it 
first began." 

The consideration for all the lands contained in 
the foregoing limits, was merely £4 ($10) quit rent 
to be paid, in current money of the state of New- 
York, yearly forever, on the " Feast day of the an- 
nonciation of our blessed Virgin Mary, (common- 



22 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

ly called Lady Day,") to the collector or receiver- 
general at the custom house, in the city of New- 
York ; the crown reserving to itself all gold and 
silver mines, and conditioning that one or more 
settlement on some part thereof should be effected 
within seven years from the date of the said patent. 

This last stipulation was entirely neglected until 
the seventeeth of October, 1715, when the compa- 
ny becoming alarmed at the prospect of forfeiting 
the patent from this neglect, the major part of 
them entered into an agreement with Naning Her- 
mense, of Albany, to effect a settlement on the said 
lands, on or before the first day of May ensuing, 
and he was to receive in consideration for his ser- 
vices, one thousand acres of land over and above 
his share, to be located any where in the patent, 
excepting on the Kayaderosseras creek, where, it 
seems, the lands v/ere held in much higher estima- 
tion than in any other part of the tract. 

It does not appear, from any documents which 
I have the means of examining, where the first set- 
tlement was made ; but it is highly probable, from 
the frequent discomfitures among the remote set- 
tlers occasioned by the incursions of hostile In- 
dians in the vicinity, that the first settlers did not 
remove very far into the interior ; doubtless they 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 23 

were located in the vicinity of Schenectady or 
along the north side of the Mohawk. 

On the Hudson, settlements might have been 
made much earlier, particularly on the patents of 
Van Schaick and Saratoga ; but it does not ap- 
pear that there were, at the period to which we al- 
lude, (1715,) any settlements above the patent of 
Saratoga, that is, north of the Fish creek, or what 
is now called Schuylerville ; and there could have 
been but a few scattering inhabitants between that 
and the Mohawk. It was in the year 1747 that 
the town of Saratoga was burnt by the Indians, and 
the inhabitants, consisting of about thirty families, 
were mostly massacred ;* and about the same 
time the family of Kettles were murdered by the 
savages. This latter circumstance forms the sub- 
ject of a story, interestingly told by Mrs. Ten 
Eyck. The place where the family resided was 
but six miles above Waterford, immediately on the 
bank of the Hudson, nearly opposite to what is 
called the lower borough in Schaghticoke, and on 
the farm lately owned by John Ten Broeck, and 



* This settlement was at the mouth of Fish creek, where 
Schuylerville now stands, and a gentleman by the name of John 
Schuyler, one of the ancestors of the present proprietor cf that 
village, was among the slain. 



24 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

more recently by one Strachan. The ruins of the 
cellar were visible, and a few aged fruit trees, said 
to have been planted by the family, were in blos- 
som, when I last visited the place, a few years 
since. 

From the period above alluded to until the final 
conquest and consequent subjection of the prov- 
ince of Canada to the British government, the pro- 
gress of emigration to this part of the country, 
which was then an exposed frontier, was greatly 
retarded. 

During the summer of 1 755, the fort was com- 
menced and completed at Fort Edward, which was 
then called the " Great Carrying Place" and at 
the same time a road was cut through the woods 
to the head of Lake George, where the Fort Wil- 
liam Henry was commenced and a small garrison 
established at both places. This added greatly to 
the security of the settlements to the south ; but it 
was not until the arrival of General Amherst in 
the year 1759, who passed up the Hudson and 
through the lake to Canada, and completed the 
subjugation of that province, that the incursions 
of the hostile Indians were effectually checked, 
and complete security restored to the frontier set- 
tlers. 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 25 

From this period the country began to be more 
rapidly, settled ; the settlements however were prin- 
cipally confined, for several years, to the banks of 
the Hudson or the Mohawk. The extreme fertil- 
ity of the soil, the advantages of mill seats, and the 
facility of cutting timber, gave to the neighborhood 
of these and their tributary streams, an advantage 
that was not to be overlooked by the adventurous 
and enterprising emigrants. 

At what precise period of time the mineral 
springs, which have now become so important in 
the history of the country, were discovered and 
their properties first observed, cannot now, with 
any degree of certainty, be ascertained. It is but 
reasonable, however, to infer that the discove- 
ry was sometime subsequent to the transfer of 
the title by the natives, as that circumstance took 
place without any intimation as to the fact of the 
existence of such waters, which could hardly 
be supposed to have happened had any import- 
ance been attached to their properties, or had they, 
indeed, been known to exist at all ; and it is equal- 
ly probable that those to whom the transfer was 
made were likewise ignorant on the subject, for 
they made, some years afterwards, grants to indi- 
viduals with the privilege to locate any where ex- 
cept on the flats of the Kayaderosseras. 



26 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

The fame which this part of the country had 
long sustained as a hunting ground must have at- 
tracted the attention of those who occupied them- 
selves in the labors of the chase at a very early pe- 
riod, and it is highly probable that an object so 
singular and conspicuous as the High Rock would 
have presented itself to the attention of some of 
these adventurers at a much earlier period than is 
now generally known ; but whatever might have 
been the knowledge of individuals, it is certain 
that but little general information had been diffus- 
ed on the subject until about the year 1767. 

General William Johnson, who had retired from 
his command in the army with the title of Baronet 
conferred by his majesty as a special favor for his 
brave defence of Fort William Henry, now resided 
at Johnstown, about thirty miles west of the 
Springs, in the capacity of Indian agent. Sir 
William being indisposed* and finding little or no 
benefit from the application of such limited means 
as his situation enabled him to apply, was induced, 
at the instigation of the Indians, with whom he was 



* Sir William was wounded in the defence of the garrison of 
Lake George, and the wound, although slight at first, continued 
to trouble him the remainder of his days. 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 27 

always a great favorite, to undertake a journey to 
the Springs, and in the month of June or July, he 
set out on the expedition. They passed down the 
Mohawk to Schenectady, from whence they trav- 
elled through the woods to Ballston Lake ; here 
they tarried over night at the hut of one Michael Mc- 
Donald, a Scotch adventurer, who, with a young 
family, had just commenced a settlement in the 
midst of the wilderness.* 

On the following day, accompanied by McDon- 
ald and his Indian guides, Sir William arrived at the 
High Rock Spring, then the only one known ; here 
he remained a number of days, being well supplied 
with provisions by the dexterity of his hunters, and 
regaling themselves with large potations of the wa- 
ter, of which the whole company soon became re- 
markably fond. 

At the termination of his residence here, Sir 
William's health became perfectly reinstated, and 
although he had been brought to the place the 
greater part of the way on a litter borne on the 



* McDonald continued to reside on the same spot, until a 
few years since, when he died, being upwards of eighty years 
old, leaving a fine well cultivated farm as a patrimony to a large 
family. 



28 HISTORV OF THE SPRINGS. 

shoulders of the Indians, he was enabled to travel 
back to Schenectady on foot 

The fame of this extraordinary cure on a per- 
sonage so distinguished as Sir William, soon spread 
over the country, and from this period " the 
Springs" began to be the resort of invalids. 

In the year 1770 and '71 several families loca- 
ted themselves on the highlands on the east side of 
Saratoga Lake, a little to the southeast of Snake 
Hill ; and about the same time John Laing, Ro- 
land Perry and John Stiles settled at Palmertown, 
(now Wilton,) about six miles northeast from the 
Springs. From these settlements excursions were 
frequently made to the High Rock through paths 
that were only passable on foot. 

In the year 1773, one Dirck Scowton, influen- 
ced by a desire to trade with the Indians as well 
as to afford accommodations to visitants, commen- 
ced a settlement on the high bank a little west of 
the High Rock on the spot where Bentley's tav- 
ern now stands. Here he cut down a few trees, 
and with the assistance of several persons who ac- 
companied him for the purpose, they were rolled 
up to form a hut ; but before he had time to ren- 
der it sufficiently comfortable for a dwelling, ow- 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 29 

ing, as it was said, to some misunderstanding with 
the Indians, he was induced to abandon his pro- 
ject, and it is believed that he never afterwards re- 
turned. 

During the following season one John Arnold ar- 
rived from the state of Rhode-Island, with a young 
family, at the east side of Saratoga Lake, and from 
the representations made to him, he was induced 
to try his fortunes at the Springs. Having provi- 
ded himself with a few articles suitable for Indian 
traffic, consisting mostly of spiritous liquors, he 
embarked his little stock in trade, together with his 
family and a few necessary articles of furniture, on 
board of a canoe near Snake Hill, paddled across 
the lake and up the Kayaderosseras creek abou^ 
two miles ; here he landed, and taking their goods 
upon their backs, they followed a foot path which 
conducted them through the woods to the Springs. 

On their arrival, Arnold took possession of the 
house that had been built by Scowton, and having 
improved it so as to render it comfortable for his 
family, he opened a kind of rude tavern. 

Mr. Thomas Arnold, a highly respectable far- 
mer, is now living in the town of Stillwater, about 
eight miles from the Springs. He is the son of 
c2 



30 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

John Arnold, and accompanied the family during 
their residence at the place, and although but nine 
years old at the time, retains a perfect recollection 
of the appearance of the country and the cir- 
cumstances relating to his father's residence here. 

The valley along the brook was covered by 
large trees of hemlock, elm and maple ; and the 
bank on the west side of the valley with a thick 
growth of overgrown white pine, while the oppo- 
site side was a perfect thicket of yellow and pitch 
pine. 

The High Rock and Flat Rock were the only 
springs at that time known. The hole or open- 
ing at the top of the High Rock was at times near- 
ly filled with water, but this only happened in wet 
seasons or during long periods of wet weather. The 
water usually stood some inches below the top of 
the hole where its surface was in a constant state 
of agitatation. This agitation, when the hole was 
nearly full of water, would, at times, cause it to 
surge over and run down its sides, but this very 
seldom happened. There was nothing like a con- 
slant discharge from the top of the rock at any 
time. The water, however, was at all times so 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 31 

high as to be easily dipped with the hand.* There 
were the remains of a small hut or cabin near the 
rock, probably the one built by Sir William John- 
son. 

The Flat Rock covered a quantity of ground of 
several rods in extent ; it was considerably eleva- 
ted above the marsh or swamp which surrounded 
it ; the surface was flat and hard, and was perfo- 
rated in numerous places, where the water stood in 
little pools, through the bottom of which it was 
constantly bubbling up. The marsh and grounds 
about the rock were much broken and trodden up 
by the footsteps of wild animals which flocked 
here in great numbers to drink of the water, of 
which, there is every reason to believe, they were 
voraciously fond. Deer and moose would, at times, 
when in pursuit of this beverage, apparently loose 
their wildness and suffer themselves to be closely 
approached, and they were frequently shot by the 
Indians, and other hunters, while regaling them- 
at this fountain. 

* This rising and falling of the water in the rock gave origin 
to the opinion entertained by the first visitants, that it " ebbed 
and flowed with the tide." The water, although now some feet, 
below the top of the rock, still continues to rise and fall with 
the state of the season, as any one may observe who will take 
the trouble to measure it at the proper times. 



32 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

The woods abounded with wild game. Bears, 
deer, wolves and moose were seen almost every 
day ; and the small stream which runs through 
the valley was the abode of beaver and great quan- 
tities of salmon trout. 

There were sixteen cabins occupied by differ- 
ent families of Indians, all in sight of Arnold's 
house. These Indians were principally employed 
in hunting and fishing, and although frequently in- 
toxicated, they were generally inoffensive and 
friendly. 

There was a small clearing on the top of the 
hill south from where the Union Hall now stands. 
This was probably the first cleared spot in the vi- 
cinity of the Springs. It was said to have been 
done by a man who went by the name of Indian 
Joe, a half blood, who resided among the Indians 
in the neighborhood. 

On the approach of winter, Arnold shut up his 
house and went over to the settlement on the east 
side of the lake, but returned early in the spring 
and resumed his business, which he continued, 
however, till fall only, when he again left the 
place. He was succeeded by one Samuel Nor- 
ton? who had previously obtained a permission 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 33 

from Isaac Low to occupy and improve a farm in 
the vicinity of the " salt spring" at Saratoga, un- 
der a stipulation to receive pay for his improve- 
ments should he think proper at any time to re- 
move. Low had acquired his title to the soil by 
purchase from the heirs of Rip Van Dam, to whom, 
on the general partition of the patent, this portion 
of it devolved.* 

Norton took possession of the house the same 
season that Arnold left it, and continued to make 
considerable improvements by clearing up the 
land, &c. through the succeeding season. But 
the war, which had already commenced, was now 
becoming every day more and more serious, and 
he began to be alarmed for the safety of his fami- 
ly, and thought it prudent to remove them from a 
situation where they were so much exposed to the 
aggressions of the contending parties. He finally 
joined the British army, where he soon after died, 
and the Springs were again left without a single in- 
habitant. 



* In 1770 the patent was divided, and lot number twelve, 
(which includes the mineral waters and a considerable portion 
of the adjoining lands at Saratoga Springs,) in the sixteenth 
general allotment, was sold by the representatives of Rip Van 
Dam to Anthony Yan Dam, Jacob Walton and Isaac Low. 



34 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

Low absented himself from the county during 
the war, and his lands were of course sold by the 
commissioners of forfeitures ; those which he own- 
ed at the Springs were sold to Henry Livingston 
in 1786, for himself and brothers. 

In the spring of 1783, a son of Norton resum- 
ed the occupancy of the former possessions of his 
father at the Springs, and continued to clear and 
improve the land in the vicinity until the year 1787, 
when he sold his possessions and improvements to 
one Gideon Morgan, who the same year transfer- 
red them to Alexander Bryant. Bryant must be 
considered the first permanent settler here ; he built 
a blacksmith's shop, and erected an additional log 
house which he opened for the accommodation of 
visitants ; and there are persons yet living who re- 
collect with peculiar pleasure, the clean apart- 
ments and comfortable accommodations afforded 
by the proprietor of this humble mansion. 

In the year 1783, General Philip Schuyler, who 
had a farm and a number of mills at the mouth of 
the Fish-creek, caused a road to be opened from 
that place to the Springs, and having set up a large 
wall tent near the High Rock, occupied it with his 
family for the space of three or four weeks. They 
were so well pleased with the result of this visit, 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 35 

that the following season he caused a small frame 
building to be erected on the high land a little 
southwest from the High Rock, where he contin- 
ued to reside five or six weeks every year during 
the remainder of his life. This house was stand- 
ing until a few years past; it consisted of two 
rooms, with a stone fire place and chimney ; it 
was enclosed and lined with rough boards, and 
was ^he first framed house built in the place. 

In the year 1789 a Dr. Blakesley and Gideon 
Putnam commenced a settlement at the Springs. 
Blakesley occupied the log building erected by 
Scowton, and Putnam located on a new farm three 
fourths of a mile westerly from the village. It is to 
the enterprize of this latter gentleman that the vil- 
lage is indebted for much of its early improvement, 
and the public for the first elegant and commodi- 
ous accommodations which the place afforded. 

In the year following, (1790,) Benjamin Ris- 
ley, Esquire, from Vermont, bought the house 
which Scowton built, and having erected some ad- 
ditions, opened it for the accommodation of visi- 
tants. This, and the house kept by Bryant on 
the opposite corner, and but a few rods distant, 
continued to be rival establishments for a number 
of years. Risley, a few years after, built the yellow 



36 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

house near the upper end of the village, which has 
been occupied as a tavern ever since. He like- 
wise built a small house on the opposite side of the 
street, nearly against the yellow tavern, which was 
occupied for a time as a boarding house, but was, 
some years since, burnt down. 

About the year 1794, the Messrs. John and Zi- 
ba Taylor opened a small store in one of the 
rooms of Risley's house. They afterwards built a 
small log house which they occupied for the same 
purpose ; this stood on the high land, forty or fifty 
rods north from the High Rock Spring, but every 
vestige of it has long since disappeared. These 
gentlemen subsequently erected mills, and contrib- 
uted much to the clearing and improving the sur- 
rounding country. 

During the summer of 1792 the Congress Spring 
was first discovered. Three gentlemen were board- 
ing at Risley's who frequently amused themselves 
by hunting for small game in the neighboring 
woods. One of them by the name of Gillman, from 
Exeter, New-Hampshire, who either was at the 
time, or had been a member of congress, accident- 
ally discovered a small stream of water issuing from 
an aperture in the side of a rock the face of which 
formed the border of the brook. An appearance so 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 37 

singular attracted his attention, and on examining 
it more attentively he found it to be a strong min- 
eral water. He communicated the discovery to 
his associates, and in the afternoon of the same 
day he conducted his landlord, together with a 
number of other persons, to the spot. It was situ- 
ated a few feet further west and on the oppo- 
site side of the brook from where the Congress 
spring now is. The water issued from an aper- 
ture which resembled a worm hole in one of those 
large masses of siliceous lime rock which form 
the upper stratum of the rock formation at this 
place. Its taste and other sensible qualities satis- 
fied the company that the discovery was an im- 
portant one ; and the spring. was immediately dig- 
nified by the consent of all the persons present, 
with the name of the CONGRESS SPRING, out 
of respect to the discoverer, and as a compliment 
to the superior strength of its waters. 

About the year 1770 it is said that a Dr. Con- 
stable, who resided at Schenectady, examined the 
waters at Saratoga and Ballston, and pronounced 
them highly medicinal ; and in 1783, Dr. Samuel 
Tenney, a regimental surgeon stationed at Fish- 
creek, visited the Springs, and made some inter- 
esting and judicious remarks on their properties 
and uses as a medicine. The result of his obser- 



38 HISTORY OP THE SPRINGS. 

vations he addressed in a letter to Dr. Joshua Fish- 
er, of Boston, which was subsequently published 
in the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts 
and Sciences, vol. II, part I, 1793. 

The venerable Samuel L. Mitchill, LL. D. of 
the city of New-York, records it as one of the re- 
markable incidents of his life, that in the year 
1787, he "visited the Springs at Saratoga while 
surrounded by the forest, and ascertained experi- 
mentally that the gas extricated from the water 
was fixed air, with the power to extinguish flame 
and destroy the life of breathing animals." 

It does not appear, however, that there was any 
attempt at a scientific examination of these wa- 
ters until the year 1793, when Valentine Seaman, 
M. D. then one of the surgeons of the New-York 
Hospital, and an eminent physician of the city, 
published "A Dissertation on the mineral waters of 
Saratoga." His chemical experiments were prin- 
cipally confined to the water of the High Rock 
spring ; and to him very justly belongs the honor 
of first developing the true character and qualities 
of these interesting fountains. From the result of 
his enquiries he inferred and published his views 
on the " use and medical virtues of the waters." 
In the year 1795, Dr. Vandervoort published the 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 39 

result of his experiments on the waters of Ball- 
ston. 

These publications had the effect to produce a 
more general knowledge of the properties of the 
waters, and to confirm the good opinion which ma- 
ny had already formed of their efficacy in many 
complaints. The consequence was an increase of 
company to such an extent as to evince the neces- 
sity of more extensive and better arranged accom- 
modations. Influenced by this consideration, Mr. 
Putnam, whose enterprize was always active, was 
induced to build a large and commodious house 
near the Congress spring, around which, at the 
time, the country was a perfect wilderness. He 
commenced it in 1800, and in the spring of 1802 
the Union Hall, then called Putnam's tavern, was 
opened for company. It consisted of a large di- 
ning room, two parlours and a commodious kitch- 
en on the first floor, and the two upper stories 
were divided into lodging rooms. 

In 1808, Jotham Holmes, who had before kept 
a house near the High Rock, commenced building 
the Columbian Hotel near the Flat Rock, and the 
following season it was opened for company. The 
success which attended these first efforts induced 
Mr. Putnam to extend the means of accommoda- 



40 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS* 

tion still further. He added considerably to the di- 
mensions of the Union Hall, and in 1812 com- 
menced the Congress Hall on the opposite side of 
the street ; but before it was completed, its worthy 
and enterprizing proprietor died, and the com- 
pletion of the building was consequently delayed 
until the fall of 1814, when it was sold to Grau- 
dus Van Schoonhoven, who finished it, and in the 
spring of 1815 it was opened. 

From this period, the character of the waters, 
and the excellency of the accommodations afford- 
ed to visitants, began to be more generally known 
and more justly appreciated ; and the little village, 
as it emerged from the surrounding wilderness, be- 
gan to present the appearance of a place of fash- 
ion and extravagance, and from being the mere 
humble abode of the indigent and infirm, suddenly 
became the resort of the most polite and polished 
society. Such was the rapid increase of compa- 
ny, that it became necessary that still further ac- 
commodations should be provided ; and in 1819, 
the Pavilion was opened by Mr. Lewis, and in 
1824 the United States Hotel by Mr. Ford. All 
these establishments have from time to time been 
enlarged and improved, until they may be ranked 
among the most spacious and imposing buildings of 
the kind in the United States ; and for good fare 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 41 

and polite attentions, will not suffer by a compar- 
ison with those of any country. 

The village was incorporated by an act of the 
legislature in the spring of 1827. It contains 
about two hundred dwelling houses, five meeting 
houses or places for public worship, a printing of- 
fice, reading-room and circulating library, togeth- 
er with a number of stores, groceries and mechan- 
ics' shops, and numbers about fifteen hundred in- 
habitants. It possessesaio peculiar advantages ei- 
ther for manufacturing or mercantile pursuits ; it 
is therefore indebted alone to its character as a 
watering place for the advances which it has here- 
tofore made in improvement and population. 

The village is situated at the termination of one 
of the spurs of the immense pile of primitive 
mountains which separate the waters of Lake 
Champlain from those of the St. Lawrence. It is 
twelve miles west from Schuylerville on the Hud- 
son, and thirty east from Johnstown in the coun- 
of Montgomery ; it is thirty four miles northerly 
from Albany, and twenty seven southerly from 
Lake George. Its principle street is one hundred 
*and forty feet in width and nearly one mile in ex- 
tent. The houses are well built, and the whole 
village has an air of neatness and salubrity seldom 
d2 



42 HISTORF OF THE SPRINGS. 

equalled in any country village. Formerly the in- 
habitants were subject to attacks of intermittent 
and remittent fevers, but for the last ten years 
these diseases have entirely disappeared. This re- 
markable exemption is imputed to the destruction of 
a number of mill-dams in the surrounding country, 
and the clearing and draining of the low marshy 
grounds in the immediate vicinity of the place, which 
must, during their existence, have afforded fruitful 
sources for those exhalations, to which has always 
been imputed the origin of these afflicting diseases. 
Nor is the surrounding country less exempt from 
those pestiferous exhalations which render a place 
insalubrious and improper for even the tempora- 
ry residence of invalids. The springs are situated 
in an elevated district, and in the immediate vicin- 
ity of any extensive range of mountainous coun- 
try ; the atmosphere, therefore, is remarkably pure 
and invigorating, affording to the diseased one of 
the best selected spots that could be chosen for 
the improvement of a broken or impaired consti- 
tution. 

But Saratoga is not only interesting on account 
of the salubrity of its waters and the purity of its 
air ; the name is associated with the great events 
which gave birth to the empire ; her plains are dis- 
tinguished in the history of freedom. It was here 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 43 

our fathers fought and bled ! and here the sight of 
their graves daily reminds us of their valor and their 
patriotism. It was here, during the dark and gloomy 
period of the revolution, that the light of liberty 
first dawned upon our then benighted land, and 
cheered the hearts of our desponding countrymen 
with a full prospect of a great and glorious day ; 
and although the bones of those who fell upon her 
plains are now scarcely distinguishable from the 
earth which covers them, yet the spot of their re- 
pose will be sought after and remembered while 
patriotism shall have a votary, or liberty a name. 
The scene of the defeat and surrender of General 
Burgoyne is but two hours ride from the Springs, 
and is full of interest. 

The falls of the Hudson are numerous, and 
some of them highly interesting, particularly those 
of Baker, Glen and Hadley ; they are situated about 
eighteen miles from the Springs, and are well 
worth the attention of the tourist. 

Saratoga Lake is but four miles distant from the 
Springs. It is a beautiful sheet of pure water, 
nine miles in extent from north to south, and from 
one to three in width. The scenery around it is 
diversified and highly picturesque, while the lake 
itself abounds with a variety of fish and its borders 



44 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

with abundance of small game, affording to the 
sportsman and epicure a never failing source of 
amusement and gratification. 

Lake George, twenty seven miles distant, pre- 
sents a scenery sublime, beautiful and romantic 
beyond description. Here the invalid may not only 
be exhilirated by the delightful prospects which 
surround him, but will find himself invigorated by 
inhaling the pure air of the mountains, and bathing 
in the limpid and uncontaminated waters of the 
Sacred Lake.* 

The artist may here occupy his pencil in delin- 
eating some of the grandest views which the Uni- 
ted States any where present, and which fancy in 
her wildest and most extravagant exertions can 
never imitate or improve. Indeed, no being, en- 
dowed with reason and common sense, can ever 
visit this spot without receiving impressions calcu- 
lated to elevate his views of the divinity of nature, 
and the dignity and grandeur of her works. 

The roads leading to all these places are tolera- 
ably good, particularly where they pass over the 

* The French, who first discovered the lake, gave it the 
name of " Lake Sacrament," from the purity of its waters. 



HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 45 

plain country ; as they are there not only level 
and dry, but frequently hard and smooth in con- 
sequence of the admixture of loam with sand. 
The invalid may, therefore, select such route from 
the Springs as may best suit the state of his health. 
If feeble or afflicted with painful disease, he may 
ride on the plains without fatigue : or if more vig- 
orous and courting exercise, he may mount the 
hills in Greenfield to the north, where, in a tour 
of eight or ten miles, he may enjoy a mountain 
scenery. 

The establishment of a line of steam-boats and 
stages from New-York to Montreal, by the way of 
Lake George and Lake Champlain, places the 
Springs in the great road between those two cit- 
ies ; their importance, therefore, as a resting 
place will be much enhanced, as travellers between 
those great marts (from both which they are near- 
ly equi-distant) may gratify their curiosity, with- 
out deviating materially from their route, and en- 
joy while there a constant and convenient inter- 
course with either place. 

[Since the foregoing was written, a company 
has been chartered by an act of the legislature to 
construct a rail-way from the city of Schenectady 
to the village of Saratoga Springs^ the capital stock 



46 HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS. 

subscribed, and the work commenced. When 
completed, (which will probably be in from 12 
to 18 months) a direct communication, by steam, 
will be opened from New-York to the Springs, a 
passage between which places, it is believed, will 
be effected in about 15 hours. With such a rapid, 
easy, elegant and safe facility, it can hardly be 
doubted that the number of strangers visiting the 
Springs will be greatly augmented, and that the 
period is not distant when these watering pla- 
ces, selected by the wealthy for a country resi- 
dence, will become as populous and in all respects 
equal the most renowned and fashionable towns 
of the kind in Europe. The advantage, too, of a 
rail-road excursion, connected with the use of the 
waters, must prove of incalculable benefit to inva- 
lids, especially to the enfeebled, and will deter- 
mine thousands, annually, in the selection of the 
Springs as the most favored spot for the recovery 
of health.] 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS 



COUNTY OF SARATOGA. 



The arrangement of the different geological for- 
mations in this county is peculiarly interesting, and 
affords one of the happiest opportunities for acquir- 
ing a knowledge of the general outlines of the sci- 
ence of geology. The primitive transition and sec- 
ondary formations present themselves almost at one 
view, and afford to the enquirer an opportunity 
for studying the physical characters, positions and 
arrangements with a facility that can scarcely be 
surpassed at any other spot. But before I pro- 
ceed to a description of its geological structure, 
it will be necessary to say a few words on the ge- 
ography of the county. 

The county of Saratoga was set off from the 
county of Albany in the year 1791. It is situated 
between 42 deg. 46 min. and 43 deg. 23 min. north 
latitude, and 26 min. east and 10 min. west long- 
itude, from the city of New-York, and is divided 
into twenty townships, the greater part of which 



48 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 

are highly cultivated, and all of them in a state of 
rapid improvement. The soil is generally good 
and well adapted to either pasturage or culture. 

Formerly the great quantity of fine timber, 
which the land every where produced, its proxim- 
ity to market, and the facilities afforded for erect- 
ing mills on never failing streams of water, indu- 
ced the earlier settlers to turn their attention to 
the business of lumbering, to the almost entire neg- 
lect of the land. But the disappearance of the 
timber has now nearly put a stop to this kind of 
traffic, and the farmer is beginning to consult his 
better interest in the cultivation and improvement 
of his farm ; and in a few more years this county 
will rank among the first in the state both for the 
quantity and quality of its productions. 

The face of the country is undulating, and the 
soil considerably diversified in its character. Along 
the Hudson there are some tracts of alluvial bot- 
toms extremely fertile ; but it is remarkable that 
this river does not produce such extensive tracts 
of alluvial lands as are usually found along streams 
of its magnitude. Back from the river there are 
extensive tracts of sandy soil intermixed with a 
light loam. The soil of the mountainous districts 
is of a gravelly consistence, intermixed with much 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 49 

vegetable substance, while that which occupies 
the space between the mountains and the sandy 
plains is generally of a rich vegetable mould. 

The northern part of the county is mountain- 
ous. It consists of two elevated ridges, the first of 
which is styled the Palmertown mountains. It is 
a continuation or spur of the immense pile of prim- 
itive mountains which occupy the space between 
the waters of Lake Champlain and those of the 
St. Lawrence. They enter the county a few 
miles west of Glen's Falls, on the Hudson, in the 
town of Moreau, from whence this ridge, pursuing a 
southwesterly course, gradually sinks to the level of 
the plain lands in the vicinity of the mineral waters 
at Saratoga Springs. It presents an abrupt front, 
in many places precipitous, and rises in some parts 
to the height of several hundred feet above the lev- 
el of the plains which lie to the east and south of 
it. From the top of. ^is range the land gradually 
declines to the west for the distance of six or sev- 
en miles, when it is again abruptly thrown into an- 
other ridge called the Kayaderosseras mountains. 
This, like the Palmertown ridge, is a spur from the 
same group of primitive mountains to the north. 
It sinks to the general level of the country. In the 
town of Galway it presents an appearance very 
similar to that of the Palmertown mountains, and 



50 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 

like that declines gradually to the west until it 
comes in contact with another spur from the same 
source, called the Sa^anadaga or Sacandaga moun- 
tains, which terminate at or near the Little Falls 
on the Mohawk ; this range is in the county of 
Montgomery. 

The waters of the Sacandaga river, one of the 
principal branches of the Hudson, have their 
source in this latter range of mountains, and col- 
lecting their scattered branches, they pursue an 
easterly course, and passing through the Kayade- 
rosseras mountains unite with the Hudson. These 
waters now pursue a southerly course for a few 
miles only, when they again strike off to the east, 
and continuing the course, pass through the Palm- 
ertown mountains, and in the vicinity of Glen's 
Falls again take a southerly direction, and pur- 
sue it with but little variation to the city of New- 
York. # . 

In the passage of these waters through the 
mountains, they form numerous rapids, cascades 
and cataracts, which present some of the most 
wild, romantic and picturesque scenery of which 
the country can boast. 

These mountains comprise the primitive region 
in this county. The rock formations which com- 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 51 

pose the regular constituent parts of these eleva- 
ted ridges consist of the following : 

Granite. 

Sienite. 

Gneiss. 

Mica Slate. 

Steatite. 

Granular Lime Stone. 

Granite 
Discovers itself in a number of places along 
the whole extent of the Palmertown range. It 
rises to the top of some of the highest peaks of 
the mountain near where the Hudson crosses it, 
and is again met with in some of the vallies. At 
the southern termination of this mountainous 
range, in the immediate vicinity of the transition 
formation, and within a mile of the mineral waters 
at Saratoga Springs, there is an extensive mass of 
granite considerably elevated and lying across the 
course of the mountain nearly east and west. The 
surface of this range of granite is exposed for the 
distance of more than a mile, and it is the last of 
the primitive rocks which make their appearance 
in this direction until we reach the Highlands be- 
low Newburgh, a distance of more than one 



52 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS, 

hundred miles, where they again occur, and the 
appearance seems to justify the opinion that they 
constitute a part of the same range. Such is the 
situation of the valley or basin between these two 
distant points, that the Highlands may be distinct- 
ly seen over it, on a clear day, from almost any 
point on the last mentioned range of granite at 
Saratoga Springs. 

On the west side of the mountain, where the 
land slopes off towards the Kayaderosseras, gran- 
ite frequently presents itself in extensive ridges, 
sometimes exhibiting its own well defined surface, 
and sometimes supporting masses of sienite or 
gneiss, which run into each other ; and in this 
manner it likewise combines with mica slate, and 
although each rock is distinctly marked, yet they 
are so intimately combined at their union as to 
render it difficult to determine the exact line of 
their meeting. 

On the Kayaderosseras mountains the granite 
discovers itself towards their southern termination 
and along their highest ridges. It is very conspicu- 
ous along the slope of the mountains on their 
western sides in the town of Providence. It like- 
wise breaks through the gneiss, or rises above it in 
several places in the precipitous parts of the moun- 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 



53 



tains on their eastern aspect in the towns of Green- 
field, Corinth and Hadley. 

In the town of Concord, on the north side of 
the Sacandaga river, and not far from the road 
leading through the mountain along the valley 
of the river from Hadley to Edinburgh, there is 
an extensive range of beautiful flesh coloured 
granite. It rises through the gneiss which lies on 
both sides of it, and occupying a direction nearly 
southwest and northeast, may be traced a distance 
of some miles. It consists almost entirely of feld- 
spar in a highly crystalline state, and contains some 
nodules of quartz and rarely some small speci- 
mens of mica. 

Most of the granite which occurs in this region 
is of a coarse granular structure, having its usual 
constituents variously combined. Sometimes it 
consists almost entirely of feldspar and quartz. 
In some specimens the mica is in excess, and in 
others the mica and quartz are scarcely discovera- 
ble, and frequently all three are so intimately 
combined as to make it difficult to determine which 
is in excess. 

Sometimes the granite occurs in veins passing 
through gneiss, in which case it is highly crystal- 



54 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 

line, and its constituent parts may be easily sepa- 
rated, often with a single blow of the hammer. 

Gneiss. 
This constitutes by far the greater proportion of 
the primitive rocks in this region. It composes 
almost the whole of the eastern face of the Palm- 
ertown mountains, except being occasionally in- 
terrupted by the granite. It extends to the west 
along the slope of those mountains to within a 
mile of the Kayaderosseras ; and these last moun- 
tains are almost entirely composed of it. Where 
the Sacandaga river crosses this range, the moun- 
tains, which are several hundred feet in height, 
particularly on the north side, approach it in fright- 
ful precipices, which are entirely composed of this 
rock; 

It is usually found resting on granite ; but in 
some places it is observed to alternate with sien- 
ite, but more frequently with mica slate. It differs 
much in its composition ; being in some instances 
composed almost entirely of mica and quartz, and 
in others of mica, quartz, feldspar and hornblend. 
Sometimes the feldspar is wanting altogether, and 
sometimes the mica is deficient. They are all in 
fine particles and much diffused in the mass. 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 55 

Sienite, or Hornblend Rock, 
Occurs in several places along the western 
declivity of the Palmertown mountains, and along 
the southern termination of the Kayaderosseras 
mountains in the town of Providence. It is ob- 
served in other places combined with gneiss or 
alternating with mica slate. It does not, how- 
ever, appear to occupy a very extensive space in 
the formation of this region. 

Mica Slate. 
This rock occurs near and along the southern 
termination of the primitive region in the town of 
Greenfield. A little below Fitch's mills it forms a 
distinct stratification, and along the mountains to 
the north and northeast it rests on the gneiss, and 
is observed to form veins or seams in several pla- 
ces in the granite. It exhibits fragments of an 
extensive stratification both on the Palmertown 
and Kayaderosseras mountains. 

Steatite j Soap- Stone, or Talcose Rock, 
Occurs at or near the foot of the Palmer- 
town mountains in the town of Moreau ; it oc- 
curs likewise near the top of the mountain in 
the town of Corinth, and again in the town of 
Greenfield. They all appear to be of the same 
description, and evidently belong to the variety 



58 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 

termed pot-stone. The locality in Moreau appears 
to be extensive. It is covered by granular lime- 
stone, through a fissure of which, the specimens 
which I have were procured. 1 have several oth- 
er specimens which I strongly suspect came from 
one of the above localities, although they were 
represented to me as coming from another quarter, 
They were procured by some infatuated money dig- 
gers, and were exhibited under a pretence or be- 
lief that they contained the precious metals. 

Granular Limestone. 
This occurs in the immediate vicinity of the fore- 
going formation, and appears to rest upon it. It 
enters largely into the formation of the Palmer- 
town mountain at a place about two miles north 
from its southern termination. All which 1 have 
examined is of a coarse granular structure, and 
in its general character and appearance strongly 
resembles the Bennington and Shaftsbury mar- 
bles. It is easily worked, and when pure receives 
a fine polish. Most of the specimens, however, 
contain crystals of feldspar diffused throughout 
the mass in such abundance as to render it in a 
great measure unfit for the operations of the chis- 
sel. It is probable, nevertheless, that when those 
localities come to be properly explored, specimens 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS, 57 

sufficiently pure may be procured for all the use- 
ful purposes to which marble is applied. 

Every thing conspires to induce the belief that 
these primitive regions have undergone great and 
important changes since the period of their forma- 
tion. Fragments of these rocks, exactly corres- 
ponding with those in place, are strewed in im- 
mense quantities all over the county in the form 
of sand, water-worn pebbles, rounded stones and 
bowlders, specimens of which, weighing many 
tons, are found at the distance of some miles from 
their parent rock resting on earth which covers 
secondary limestone. 

The minerals which have been observed con- 
nected with the primitive formation of this region, 
are tourmaline, garnets, beryl, sulphuret of mo- 
lybdena, graphite, spodumene, iron in the form of 
magnetic hematite and sulphuret, ehrysoberyl,* 
prismatic and laminated mica, coccolite, &c. 



* This rare mineral occurs in veins of granite running 
through gneiss in two or three places, from which some beau- 
tiful specimens have been obtained. 



58 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 



TRANSITION FORMATION, 

The rocks which are distinctly marked as be- 
longing to this class in this region are — 

Pudding Stone, or Conglomerate. 
Quartzose, or Coarse Siliceous Sand Stone. 
Metalliferous, or Mountain Lime Stone. 
Argillaceous Slate. 
Gray Wacke and Gray Wacke Slate. 
Siliceous and Calcareous Sand Stone. 

Pudding Stone.* 
This formation occurs in the town of Green- 
field, not far from its south line, on the southeast 
side of the Kayaclerosseras mountain, distinctly 
resting on the primitive rocks. It consists princi- 
pally of rounded pebbles of quartz, from the size 
of a small shot to that of a man's head, and larger, 
united into one common mass by a kind of coarse 
ferruginous sand. The rounded masses which 



* This formation, with the succeeding one, answers well to 
the description given by Eaton, of the miilstone-grit of the 
canal district ; but its situation here peremptorily forbids its 
being placed among the secondary rocks. 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 59 

characterize this formation are much the largest 
at its commencement, or where it unites with the 
primitive rocks, and they regularly decrease in 
size as we climb up the series, until it passes into 
a uniform quartzose, or coarse siliceous sand 
stene, which overlays or alternates with it over a 
considerable extent of this part of the county. 
Broken rounded fragments of this formation are 
found all over the county, and in great abundance 
along the valley between the Palmertown and 
Kayaderosseras mountains. 

Quartzose or Coarse Siliceous Sand Stone. 
This formation occupies an extensive space 
along the valley between the Palmerton and Kay- 
aderosseras mountains, and is found along the eas- 
tern declivity of the latter mountain, near its south- 
ern termination, in thin and horizontal strata, in 
some places alternating with conglomerate or 
passing into it. Near the foot of the mountain it 
inclines a little to the southeast, and disappears 
beneath more recent formations. 

This formation is generally of a reddish brown 
color, particularly where the surface has been 
exposed to the weather. It is, however, frequently 
white or greyish white ; and at or near the falls on 
the Hudson at Hadley, it passes into and alter- 



60 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 

nates with a kind of rubblestone of a blueish cast, 
which slightly effervesces with acids, and some- 
times contains calcareous spar.* 

Metalliferous, or Mountain Lime Rock. 
This formation occurs in the town of Green- 
field, on an elevated ridge of land in the valley be- 
tween the Palmertown and Kayaderosseras moun- 
tains, and evidently reposes on the foregoing satid 
stone. This locality is not very extensive, and 
1 am not aware of its occurring at any other place, 
although it very probably may, along the course of 
the same valley which occupies the space between 
those primitive spurs for nearly twenty miles. 

•Argillaceous Slate. 
This formation appears to underlay the greater 
part of the county that is not included in the prim- 
itive region. It forms the bed of the Hudson to 
a little above Baker's Falls, opposite Moreau, and 



* professor Eaton/has described this formation as being prim- 
itive, and mentions the occurrence of an intervening stratum of 
pudding stone as a remarkable circumstance. 1 once entertain- 
ed the same opinion, but a more careful investigation has put 
it beyond a doubt that this is a transition formation, occupying 
the bottom of a basin formed by the surrounding primitive 
mountains. 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 61 

that of the Mohawk to above Schenectady. It is 
likewise observable in the interior of the county, 
at the bottom and along the shores of the lakes, 
both at Saratoga and Ballston ; and it forms the 
shores or banks of most of the streams that pass 
to the southward of the secondary formation, but 
it has not yet been observed to make its appear- 
ance between this last and the primitive rocks. 

The layers of this rock are much curved, par- 
ticularly along the southern parts of the county, 
and possess a considerable elevation to the north- 
west ; but as it approaches towards the seconda- 
ry rock, to the north, its layers become straight, 
are evidently less inclined, and separate into thin 
plates, some of which appear suitable for roof 
slate. The seams and fissures of these layers are 
frequently filled with calcareous spar; and at 
Baker's Falls large masses of this substance are 
imbedded in the rock. It is extremely liable to 
disintegration where the surface is exposed ; and 
in many places it breaks into regular rhombick 
tables, whose fracture is always parallel to their 
sides, evincing a crystalline character, 

Some specimens of this rock are glazed with 
black lead, which when handled soils the fingers ; 
and from this circumstance, some inexperienced 



OX GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 

geologists have mistaken it for bituminous shale, 
a substance which probably will not be found in 
this district. 

Large masses of chlorite, milky quartz, and 
sometimes red jasper, are likewise found, either 
imbedded in this formation or passing through it 
in the form of veins ; and the sulphuret of iron, in 
beautiful golden colored crystals of various forms, 
occurs in great abundance, either in seams or im- 
bedded in its substance. The decomposition of this 
latter substance probably gives origin to the sul- 
phurous waters which are found in this region, 
and likewise to the efflorescence so often met with 
on the sides and walls of this rock. This efflores- 
cence is either the sulphate of iron, lime or alu- 
mine, and sometimes consists of all three. 

Siliceous slate appears to be imbedded in the 
argillite, rather than forming a separate stratum. 
It is of a black flint like appearance, possessing a 
concoidal fracture, and has a dark shining aspect. 
It occurs in large irregular masses in the argilla- 
ceous slate on the east side of Saratoga lake, and 
likewise along the southern parts of the county. 

Gray- Wacke. 
Wherever this rock is found in this region, it 
rests on the argillaceous slate, and in some places 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 63 

is observed to alternate with it. It forms the sum- 
mit of most of the insolated elevations throughout 
the southern parts of the county. It occupies a 
considerable space along the highlands which run 
parallel to the Hudson through the towns of Sar- 
atoga and Stillwater, and enters largely into the 
composition of Bemus' Heights. It is observable 
again along the southern parts of Ballston and 
Charlton, where it runs into, and alternates with 
gray-wackjp slate. This last differs but little from 
the former, excepting it is more slaty in its 
structure. Along the east side of Saratoga 
Lake, and at several other places, they have a 
considerable declination to the southeast ; but in 
Charlton their position is nearly horizontal. In 
some places the strata of this formation are cu- 
riously contorted and bent, furnishing interesting 
views for the speculations of the scientific geolo- 
gist. 

Siliceous and Calcareous Sand Stone. 
These rocks occur all along the eastern and 
southern termination of the primitive region, with 
which in many places they appear to come nearly 
in contact. They appear in the banks of the 
Hudson a little below Glen's Falls, and they are 
very conspicuous along the south part of the town 
of Greenfield at the foot of the Kayaderosseras, 



©4 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 

when they pursue the course of that primitive 
tract to its southern termination in the town of 
Galway. They then take a western course into the 
county of Montgomery. In Greenfield and Co- 
rinth this formation occupies a narrow space along 
the eastern foot of the Kayaderosseras mountain 
for the distance of several miles ; and the same 
formation occurs again on its opposite side, along 
the foot of the Sacandaga mountains, and it is of 
this stone that the piers of the elegant state bridge 
over the Sacandaga river near the Fish House are 
constructed. Indeed, some of the rocks at this 
place approach very nearly to compact lime-stone 5 
and contain organic remains. 

Horn Stone is found in great abundance im- 
bedded in the calcareous sand stone ; and calca- , 
reous spar, beautifully crystallized and possessing 
a variety of colours, occurs in both. Some of 
these rocks contain in their fissures and cavities 
beautiful and very perfect six sided crystals of 
quartz. These occur in great abundance among 
the calcareous sand stones in the vicinity of the 
mineral springs at Saratoga, and are presented to 
the curious under the appellation of diamonds. 
Some small specimens of these crystals have been 
found in the loose earth about these rocks, having 
regular sides, with both terminations entire, and 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 65 

possessing a brilliancy but little inferior to the dia- 
mond itself. 

The siliceous sand stone in some places seems 
to pass into a kind of amygdaloidal rock, which 
effervesces but slightly with acids. Its cavities, 
which are numerous, are lined with chalcedony. 
This frequently occupies the whole space, but 
sometimes forms geodes, the insides of which are 
studded with small brilliant crystals of quartz, or 
a variety of crystallized spar. The walls of these 
geodes not unfrequently pass into agate, exhibiting 
its zigzag parallel lines very distinctly. 

Most of the calcareous and siliceous sand stone 
of this region are easily wrought, and they bear 
the effects of a high temperature well ; they are 
therefore used in Galway for the backs and jambs 
to chimneys. They have been likewise extensively 
quarried in Greenfield for the construction of the 
locks on the northern canal; and* at Saratoga 
Springs they are used altogether for the founda- 
tions of buildings. 



F 2 



60 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 



SECONDARY FORMATION. 

The rocks which compose the regular series of 
this formation are — 

Compact Lime-stone, 
Shell Lime-stone, and 
Oolite. 

This lime-stone formation passes into the coun- 
ty at Glen's Falls, and pursuing a south westerly 
direction, occupies a narrow space along the 
course of the primitive region, and not far from it 
through the towns of Moreau, Wilton, Saratoga 
Springs, Milton, Galway, and so into the county 
of Montgomery. 

The connection of this formation with the tran- 
sition rocks is very obvious at a little distance be- 
low Glen's Falls, where it is first observed to alter- 
nate with calcareous and siliceous sand stone, and 
following the stream still further down, these last 
rocks alternate with gray-wacke and gray-wacke 
slate, which finally rest on the argillaceous slate, 
not far above Baker's Falls, in the town of Mo- 
reau. 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS- 67 

Both the compact and shell lime-stone occur 
in the same series of strata, constituting distinct 
layers, which overlay each other at irregular inter- 
vals. They are of a dark blue colour, and the 
compact is susceptible of a fine polish, and is used 
for ornamental work of various kinds. Both, 
when properly burned, form a very pure lime, 
giving out when first heated, a strong sulphurous 
odour. 

The shell lime-stone differs very materially from 
the compact, being more loose in its texture, and 
consisting nearly altogether of organic remains, 
the forms of which are perfect and entire ; among 
which have been recognized celleporites, pecte- 
nites, orthoceratites, amonites, cardites, gryphites, 
corallinites, terebratulites, ostryatites, and belem- 
nites. 

Oolite. 
This formation had not been known as consti- 
tuting a part of the regular series of rocks in the 
United States until it was discovered in this coun- 
ty. It occurs at a place about two miles north 
west from the village of Saratoga Springs, and 
within half a mile of the ridge of granite rocks 
which terminate the southernmost point of the 
Palmertown mountains. From this spot it stretches 



68 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS, 

across the valley which separates the Palmertown 
from the Kayaderosseras mountains, and prob- 
ably may yet be traced around the termination of 
the latter mountains to those of the Sacandaga, and 
possibly along the whole extent of these primitive 
spurs of what professor Eaton has termed " the 
M'Comb Mountains." 

The calcareous concretions which characterize 
and identify this formation, are for the most part 
arranged in successive layers throughout the strata 
in which they appear. They are globular, of the 
size of mustard seed, possess a shining black col- 
our, and are evidently composed of concentric lay- 
ers. They are united in the mass by a calcareous 
cement, more or less granular, combined with fine 
siliceous sand. 

More than one half of the whole mass of some 
of the strata which constitute the series of this for- 
mation, consist of these globular concretions ; in 
others they are more sparingly diffused, and some 
of the strata appear to be composed altogether of 
a calcareo-siliceous sand, without the intervention 
of a single globule. They are mostly of a dark 
gray colour, but they are in many places rendered 
brown by the intervention of ferruginous particles. 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 69 

From a cursory examination, at the time this 
formation was first observed, I was induced to be- 
lieve that it rested on the transition rocks ; but a 
more careful investigation has satisfied me that it 
rests on secondary or shell lime-stone. This lime- 
stone differs somewhat from that which I have be- 
fore described ; it is of a lighter colour, less com- 
pact in its structure, the organic remains are more 
equally diffused throughout the strata, which are 
thinner, and are frequently separated by thin lay- 
ers of aluminous slate, which, in some places, is 
nearly identified with the lime-stone. Can this be 
the lias of the European geologists ? and is this 
shale the lias clay which in England is known to 
be impregnated with muriate of soda and other 
salts ? and the same in which the mineral springs 
at Cheltenham and Gloucester are said to rise 1 
If it should be so, we shall find but little difficulty 
in accounting for the origin of some of the saline 
ingredients found in the mineral waters at Sarato- 
ga ; but it must be left to further investigation to 
determine this subject, 



70 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 



DILUVIAL AND ALLUVIAL FORMATIONS. 

Diluvial and alluvial deposits cover a great pro- 
portion of the secondary and transition rocks 
throughout the county, in the form of thick beds 
of sand and clay and fragments of rocks more or 
less rounded by attrition. 

The diluvial includes generally all those lands 
that are usually termed pine plains, extending from 
the northern to the southern limits of the county, 
forming a part of .a range which follows the course 
of the Hudson for more than four hundred miles 
between the primitive mountains. 

But little is as yet known of t^e depth or interi- 
or properties of this immense body of earth. It 
has seldom been opened to any extent but for the 
purposes of obtaining water, which is usually found 
at a depth of from ten to twenty-five feet, in a 
coarse loose sand resting on aluminous marl, or 
between this first stratum and another at no great 
distance beneath. When water is found to occur 
over the marl, it is usually very pure, combines 
readily with soap, and is what, in common lan- 
guage, is termed soft ; but when it occurs between 
the strata of marl 5 it possesses properties which 



GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 71 

give it the appellation of hard ; it decomposes 
soap without forming a pure suds, and contains 
lime, magnesia, &c. usually combined with sul- 
phuric or muriatic acid. 

Wherever this formation has been exposed to 
any considerable depth, it presents a stratified 
structure consisting of regular and well defined 
strata of different coloured sand or earth, or coarse 
and fine gravel regularly arranged. Sometimes 
these strata are separated by thin layers of marl or 
clay, and sometimes by the argillaceous oxide of 
iron. They are horizontal, inclined or undulating 
at different places. 

Marl appears to underlay or form a constituent 
part of almost the whole of the diluvial deposits of 
this county ; it is mostly argillaceous, but some 
specimens contain from forty to sixty per cent, of 
lime, and are evidently calcareous. 

Argillaceous oxide of iron (bog ore) occurs in 
a number of places, imbeded in the sandy diluvial. 
On the plains between Saratoga and Ballston Spa, 
it was formerly found in sufficient quantities to 
supply a forge for a number of years, which pro- 
duced from fifty to seventy tons of wrought or bar 
iron annually. 



72 GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 

The alluvial formation is found along the banks 
of streams and at the bottoms of vallies ; it con- 
sists of beds of clay or marl, interrupted at inter- 
vals by layers of quicksand, and sometimes by that 
of vegetable remains. 

Every thing in this extensive region of diluvial 
and alluvial deposits conspire to induce the belief 
that it once formed the bottom of an immense 
fresh water lake, which must have existed subse- 
quent to the retiring of the oceanic waters, in which 
were deposited the lime and other secondary rocks 
which contain the remains of marine animals in 
such abundance ; but as the discussion of this 
subject is not necessarily connected with the ob- 
ject of the work before us, it is deemed inexpedi- 
ent to pursue it any further at this time. 

Having thus given a concise account of the dis- 
covery and settlement of the springs, and a gene- 
ral view of the geological features of the country 
in which they are situated, (preliminaries interest- 
ing and important,) I shall now proceed to an 
examination into the character and properties of 
the waters. 



I 



EXAMINATION 



MINERAL WATERS- 



Such is the solvent power of water, that it is 
seldom, if ever, found perfectly pure or free 
from foreign ingredients. Rain and snow wal er ? 
when collected in the open country, remote from 
towns or villages, and immediately after their de- 
scent, are the most pure of any used for domestic 
purposes ; but even these are not entirely free 
from impurities. 

The waters of springs, wells, rivers, lakes and 
ponds are still more impure, owing to their con- 
taining a larger proportion of foreign substances 
in solution or in a state of suspension ; but it is sel- 
dom that these contain sufficient quantities to ren- 
der them altogether unfit for domestic uses ; when 
this does happen, they are styled mineral wa- 
ters. 

Mineral waters, are those which contain so large 
a proportion of foreign matter as to render them 

G 



74 EXAMINATION OF THE WATERS. 

unfit for culinary or other domestic uses. They 
possess a distinguishing flavor, and when taken in- 
to the stomach produce distinct medicinal effects. 
They have been, for the conveniency of description, 
divided into distinct classes, each class receiving an 
appropriate name from the prominent character 
given to the water by the articles held in solution. 
Hence we have 

Acidul ous waters, those which contain so large 
a proportion of carbonic acid as to give them a 
distinguishing character ; 

Chalybeate waters, containing iron in some of 
its soluble combinations ; 

Saline waters, those which contain one or more 
of the saline purging salts ; 

Sulphureous waters, those which contain sul- 
phuretted hydrogen either in a combined or un- 
combined state. 

It not unfrequently happens that the same foun- 
tain contains all the foregoing distinguishing in- 
gredients, particularly the three first, in which case 
it is styled an acidulous saline chalybeate 



EXAMINATION OF THE WATERS. 75 

water. To this class belong the famous mineral 
waters of Saratoga. 

These celebrated waters occur along the south- 
ern termination of the secondary, and in the im- 
mediate vicinity of the transition formation. They 
are scattered along a line running nearly east and 
west, for the distance of about twenty miles. At 
Ballston Spa there are a number of these springs, 
some of which make their appearance at the sur- 
face through alluvial deposits of plastic clay, or 
marl and sand, while others have been obtained by 
boring to a considerable depth in the transition 
slate which here forms the basis on which rests the 
alluvial deposits. Between this place and the vil- 
lage of Saratoga Springs there are several of these 
fountains of less note situated both in the transition 
and secondary formations. At Saratoga Springs 
they are more numerous, and diversified in their 
sensible qualities, than at any other place. They 
discover themselves, in great numbers, for the dis- 
tance of more than a mile along the valley, in 
marl, which rests on secondary limestone. They 
occur again in the southeast part of the old town 
of Saratoga, at a place called the Quaker Springs. 
The rock formation at this place is transition slate. 



76 EXAMINATION OF THE WATERS. 

All the waters of these numerous fountains ap- 
pear to possess the same or nearly the same qual- 
ities, differing in their medicinal properties only, in 
the quantities of the articles which are held in so- 
lution. 

I shall now proceed to a separate and distinct 
examination of all those fountains which have ex- 
cited attention either from their notoriety, or their 
sensible qualities ; and I commence with the Con- 
gress Spring. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS. 



CONGRESS SPRING. 



This truly celebrated fountain is situated on 
the west side of a narrow strip of low marshy 
ground, close to the foot of a beautiful little cas- 
cade, formed by a small limped stream which 
bursts from the earth but about fifty rods wester- 
ly from the spot. The spring was first discovered, 
as heretofore stated, during the summer of 1792.* 
At that time the water made its appearance 
through a small aperture in the side of a calcare- 
ous rock, whose margin formed the border of the 
brook. Here it was caught in tumblers as it is- 
sued from the rock in a small stream, and this 
formed the only resource for obtaining the water 
for several years after its discovery ; but the 
quantity afforded was found altogether insufficient, 
even at that early period of its use, to satisfy the 



* John Taylor Gillman, who has since been governor of the 
state of New-Hampshire, and a brother of his, were in compa- 
ny when this spring was first noticed, but it is not now cer- 
tainly known which of the two first discovered it. 

g2 



78 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS. 

demands of its visitants ; it therefore became desi- 
rable to obtain a larger quantity, and with a view 
to effect this object, some efforts were made which 
unfortunately resulted in completely obstructing 
the passage of the water, and for a time the spring 
was supposed to be irretrievably lost. 

Not long after this accident, Mr. Putnam, a gen- 
tleman whose name I have already had occasion 
to mention, who then resided near the spot, and 
who ranked among the most enterprizing of the 
early settlers, observed bubbles of gas breaking 
through the water in the middle of the brook, a 
few feet south and east from the site of the former 
fountain. Governed by the hope of being able to 
recover the original fountain, he turned the stream 
from its course, and having excavated the earth to 
the depth of about eight feet, discovered a strong 
mineral water rising in various places through a 
very hard and compact stratum of indurated marl 
imbedded with rounded pebbles and coarse gravel. 
He prepared a square tube made of strong plank, 
about ten inches in diameter, and of sufficient 
length to reach from the bottom of the excavation 
to a little above the surface ; this he placed upright 
in the well, and having adjusted the lower end so 
as to include a number of these separate little 
fountains^ replaced the earth firmly around it, and 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS. 79 

thus secured to posterity the possession of a mine- 
ral water which, for its peculiar medicinal proper- 
ties, stands unrivalled. 

In this curb, which is perfectly tight, the water 
rises to a few inches above the surface of the 
brook, which still passes close to the spring, and 
here it becomes stationary. A little below this 
point, however, it is suffered to escape through a 
small aperture made in the side of the curb for the 
purpose. At this aperture, when the spring is not 
disturbed, the water issues at the rate of some- 
thing less than a gallon per minute. The quanti- 
ty of water however which the fountain affords 
seems to be inexhaustible, for when the pressure 
has been removed by lessening the column of wa- 
ter in the curb, as when it has been rapidly dip- 
ped out, it rushes in with such rapidity that it be- 
comes difficult, if not impossible, to remove the 
whole contents of the well. 

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE WATER. 

The surface of the well is constantly agitated 
by the escape of gas in fine bubbles, giving the ap- 
pearance of simmering, not unlike that which wa- 
ter exhibits just before the process of violent ebul- 
lition takes place. 



80 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS. 

When first dipped, the water is remarkably lim- 
ped and sparkling, and were it not for the constant 
escape of gas in innumerable fine points, it would 
be perfectly transparent. It however becomes tur- 
bid after standing a short time exposed to the air ; 
a delicate white pellicle forms on its surface, which 
terminates in a reddish brown sediment. This 
sediment is likewise observable in the well, being 
incrustated on the walls of the curb and along the 
surface, over which the water makes its egress to 
the adjoining brook. 

Transparent glasses and bottles which have 
been much used in the water, or in which the wa- 
ter has been suffered to stand for any length of 
time, become tarnished, and though carefully 
washed, retain a strong iridescent stain. 

Its saline and gaseous properties are very per- 
ceptible to the palate, and to most persons not of- 
fensive. When swallowed, its effects depend in a 
great measure upon the state of the stomach at the 
time of receiving it, and upon the quantity drank. 
When taken, however, in a moderate draught, by 
a person in tolerable health, the sensation is sel- 
dom, if ever, unpleasant ; and to those who are in 
the habitual use of it, particularly in the hot sea- 
son, it is a delightful beverage. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS, 81 

Its most obvious effect, when taken into the 
stomach as a medicine, is that of an cathartic and 
diuretic. In most habits this effect is produced 
by drinking from four to six half pints in the morn- 
ing before eating. Soon after taking it, the per- 
son feels a sense of fulness about the stomach and 
bowels, attended with frequent eructations of fixed 
air, a slight giddiness of the head, and a sensation 
bordering on a disposition to sleep. These feel- 
ings, however, are soon removed by the copious 
discharges that almost immediately follow, leaving 
the stomach with an increased appetite for food, 
and a disposition for exercise unattended with Ian- 
guor. 

The respiration of all breathing animals is im- 
mediately affected by coming in close contact with 
the surface of this fountain. The gas which is- 
sues from it is immediately fatal to the lives of ani- 
mals which happen to be immersed in it, and even 
fishes and frogs survive but a short time when pla- 
ced in the water. 

Flour, when made into a paste or dough with 
the water fresh from the spring, and immediately 
baked, forms a tolerably light bread while warm ; 
but when cold, it becomes clammy and heavy like 
unleavened bread. The water is much used by 



82 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS. 

the country people for making " hot cakes." The 
flour is mixed with the water and a quantity of sour 
cream, and is ready for baking as soon as the in- 
gredients are sufficiently kneeded together. It 
forms a very palatable hot cake, and recommends 
itself on account of the expedition with which it is 
prepared. 

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 

The temperature of the water of this spring, as 
shown by Fahrenheit's thermometer when immers- 
ed in the bottom of the well, is 50 deg., and it does 
not appear to suffer any sensible variation either 
during the summer or winter months. At a time 
when the thermometer in the open air stood at 
14 deg. below zero, and at another, when it was 
90 deg. above, the water at the bottom of the well 
was still at 50 deg. 

The specific gravity of the water at the tempe- 
rature of 60 deg., the barometer ranging at 29.5 
inches, is 1009.7, pure water being 1000. Exces- 
sive wet, or long seasons of dry weather, seem to 
produce a slight variation from this result ; but re- 
peated experiments, made at different periods and 
under various circumstances of season, &c. for the 
space of more than twenty years, have in no in- 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS. 83 

stance produced a deviation of more than the 0.5 
of a grain. 

A thin, transparent glass flask was filled with 
the water fresh from the spring, a thermometer 
was immersed in it, and the whole placed in a sand 
bath, to which the heat was gradually applied. 

At the temperature of 65 deg. there was a per- 
ceptible increase of air bubbles formed at the bot- 
tom of the flask, and passing up in rapid succes- 
sion through the water. 

At 80 deg. the water became much agitated by 
the rapid disengagement of the gas, and its trans- 
parency slightly affected by a faint milky appear- 
ance. 

At 100 deg. the commotion in the water, from 
the abundant escape of gas, continued to increase 
as the temperature advanced, and the milkiness be- 
came more conspicuous. 

At 150 deg. the profusion of air bubbles contin- 
ued, and there appeared a very delicate white pel- 
licle forming on the surface of the water, and the 
turbidness assumed a brownish shade. 



84 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS. 

At 180 deg. the air bubbles still continued to 
escape in great abundance, and the pellicle ap- 
peared broken and began to be deposited, together 
with a light flaky powder, which accumulated at 
the bottom of the flask. 

At 200 degrees the water became less turbid, 
and the escape of gas had nearly ceased. It was 
then suffered to boil for the space of half an hour, 
and then removed from the sand bath ; and when 
cold, it became nearly clear and exhibited an 
abundance of a reddish brown sediment. It had 
lost its pungent acid flavor, but was decidedly more 
saline. 

EXPERIMENTS WITH TESTS. 

Exp. 1. Lime water, added in considerable 
quantity, produced a milky turbidness, which ter- 
minated in a pulverulent white precipitate. This 
effect is not produced on water that has been pre- 
viously boiled. 

Exp. 2. Tincture of litmus produced a light 
red colour, when added to water just dipped from 
the well. Litmus paper was likewise redened by 
plunging it into the water and retaining it there a 
few minutes ; the blue colour of the litmus paper 



EXPERIMENTS WITH TESTS. 85 

was, however, restored on exposing it for a few 
minutes to the air, or on drying it by the fire. The 
water, after being boiled, had no effect on the col- 
our of litmus paper ; but strips of this paper, red- 
dened with distilled vinegar and then dipped into 
the water, had its blue colour restored. 

Exp. 3. Tincture of red cabbage produced a 
beautiful green colour, and this was effected as 
readily after the water had been boiled as before ; 
the effect, however, was best displayed on water 
that had been considerably concentrated by evap- 
oration. 

Exp. 4. Tincture of turmeric was converted 
into an orange colour when added to a quantity of 
the water, and when the water had been much 
concentrated by boiling, it was immediately con- 
verted into a brick red. 

Exp. 5. Tincture of nutgalls, dropped into the 
water when taken recently from the spring, in- 
stantly produced a light purple tinge, which be- 
came much deeper after standing some time ex- 
posed to the air. No such effect was produced 
on water that had been previously boiled. 



86 CONGRESS SPRING. 

Exp. 6. Prussiate of potash produced a slight 
green tinge, which, after standing some time, be- 
came azure. This experiment succeeded best 
when the water had been previously saturated with 
sulphuric or muriatic acid ; it then terminated in 
producing a precipitate of Prussian blue. On wa- 
ter that had been boiled, or suffered to stand for 
some time exposed to the air, the prussiate of pot- 
ash had no sensible effect. 

Exp. 7. Muriate of barytes, after standing some 
minutes mixed with the water fresh from the foun- 
tain, produced a slight cloudiness, which termina- 
ted in a white precipitate, which was entirely dis- 
solved with effervescence in muriatic acid. When 
the water had been considerably concentrated, the 
precipitate was formed much more rapidly. 

Exp. 8. Barytic water, when mixed with the 
water considerably concentrated by boiling, pro- 
duced a white precipitate, which, like that in Exp. 
7, was entirely dissolved with effervescence in mu- 
riatic acid. 

Exp. 9. Oxalic acid produced an immediate 
active effervescence, which was succeeded by a 
dense white precipitate. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH TESTS. 87 

Exp. 10. Oxalate of ammonia produced an 
immediate turbidness, which terminated in a copi- 
ous white precipitate ; when applied to water that 
had been boiled for some time, a slight change in 
its transparency only was produced. 

Exp. 11. Carbonate of ammonia, when added 
in considerable quantities, produced a faint milky 
turbidness ; but, on the addition of the phosphate 
of soda, a copious white granular precipitate was 
immediately formed. 

Exp. 12. Pure ammonia produced an immedi- 
ate change in the transparency of the water, which 
was followed by a copious precipitate. 

Exp. 13. Pure potash produced nearly the 
same effect. 

Exp. 14. Sulphuric acid produced an instan- 
taneous and very rapid effervescence, which re- 
sulted in an abundant white precipitate. 

Exp. 15. Nitric and muriatic acid produced a 
similar disengagement of gas, but their effect was 
not followed by a precipitate of any kind. 



88 CONGRESS SPRING. 

Exp. 16. Nitrate of silver produced a thick 
cloud, which immediately collected into flakes and 
fell to the bottom of the vessel in great abundance. 
This effect was the same on water that had been 
boiled as on that which had not. The precipitate 
was of a white curdy appearance when first pro- 
duced, but soon became of a darl! muddy colour. 
This change of colour, however, did not take place 
when the vessel containing the mixture was kept 
excluded from the rays of light. 

Exp. 17. Muriate of platina produced no effect, 
either on water fresh from the fountain, or on that 
which had been previously boiled ; but by evapo- 
rating two gallons of the water by a slow heat, until 
cubic crystals began to form, filtering the remain- 
ing liquor and again evaporating until its bulk was 
much reduced by the crystallization of its saline in- 
gredients, and then adding a small quantity of this 
test to the remaining solution, a very minute quan- 
tity of a bright yellow precipitate was produced, 

Exp. 18. Chlorine gas. To a portion of the so- 
lution obtained from four gallons of water, in the 
manner related in the foregoing experiment, a 
quantity of chlorine gas was transmitted, which 
immediately converted the liquid into a reddish yel- 
low colour. A small quantity of pure sulphuric 



INFERENCES. 89 

ether dissolved the coloring substance of the solu- 
tion, becoming itself of a hyacinth red tint ; and 
this was again rendered colourless, by the addition 
of a drop or two of costic potash. 

Exf. 19. A solution of starch was added to a 
portion of the water, containing the soluble salts, 
evaporated until crystallization commenced ; to 
this solution a few drops of dilute sulphuric acid 
was added, which gave to the whole solution a 
deep violet colour, which was destroyed by the in- 
troduction of a stream of chlorine. 



INFERENCES, 

Drawn from the foregoing observations and ex- 
periments, 

1st. That this fountain has its source at a great 
depth in the earth, as is evinced from the regular- 
ity of its temperature at various and extreme states 
of the atmosphere, and from the circumstance 
of its being but slightly affected by wet and dry 
weather. 

2d. That the water of this fountain retains its 
original properties, or its medicinal qualities, the 
same at least as they were twenty years ago, as is 
h 2 



90 CONGRESS SPRING. 

evinced by the uniformity of its specific gravity 
during that period. 

3d. That it contains a large proportion of a gas- 
eous material in a free and in a combined state, as 
is made evident by the effects produced by the ap- 
plication of heat. 

4th. That the gas so copiously evolved from the 
water is the carbonic acid or fixed air, as is infer- 
red from Exp. 1 and 2. 

5th. That the water contains a carbonated al- 
kali, agreeably to Exp* 3 and 4. 

6th. That oxide of iron forms one of the con- 
stituent properties of the water, and that it is held 
in solution by an excess of carbonic acid, agreea- 
bly to Exp. 5 and 6. 

7th. That it does not contain sulphuric acid un- 
der any form or combination, as is evinced from 
the action of muriate of barytes and barytic water ; 
the effect which these tests produce being referi- 
ble to their union with a carbonated alkali. See 
Exp. 7 and 8. 



INFERENCES. 91 

8th. That it contains carbonate of lime in abun- 
dance, agreeably to Exp. 9 and 10. 

9th. That it contains a large proportion of car- 
bonate of magnesia, agreeably to Exp. 11. 

10th. That the carbonates contained in the wa- 
ter form a large proportion of the ingredients held 
in solution, agreeably to Exp. 12, 13, 14 and 15. 

11th. That it contains a large proportion of a 
muriatic salt, agreeably to Exp. 16. 

12th. That the carbonated alkali, evinced by 
Exp. 3 and 4, is the carbonate of soda, as is made 
evident by Exp. 17. This experiment, likewise, 
indicates the presence of a minute quantity of the 
vegetable alkali or potassa. 

13th. That the water contains the newly dis- 
covered elementary substance termed brome or 
bromine, is made abundantly evident by Exp. 18. 

14th. That iodine forms another of the constit- 
uent properties of this interesting and truly distin- 
guished water, is satisfactorily demonstrated by 
Exp. 19. 



92 CONGRESS SPRING. 

Thus, then, we have certain indications, as far 
as tests can be relied on, that the water of this 
fountain holds the following substances in solu- 
tion, viz. 



Carbonic Acid, 


Muriatic Acid, 


Soda, 


Potassa or Potash, 


Iron, 


Bromine, and 


Lime, 


Iodin'e. 


Magnesia, 





It remains to investigate the manner in which 
these substances are combined, and to determine 
the proportions in which they enter into the com- 
position of the water. 

EXAMINATION OF THE GASEOUS CONTENTS 
OF THE WATER. 

A quantity of the gas was procured in the fol- 
lowing manner : A large bladder was prepared, 
and to its mouth was secured a stopcock, to the 
end of which was fitted the small aperture of a 
large glass funnel, The funnel was inverted in 
the spring, and as soon as it became filled with gas, 
the stopcock attached to the bladder was applied, 
and the bladder, which was dry and had been pre- 
viously emptied by rolling, was now suffered to fill 



GASEOUS CONTENTS. 93 

with the gas as it escaped from the water. In this 
way a sufficient quantity of the gas, for all the pur- 
poses of experimenting, may readily be obtained 
at any time. 

A quantity of this gas was pressed from the 
bladder into a tumbler, in which was immersed a 
lighted taper, which was immediately extinguished. 

A sprightly live mouse was confined in the bot- 
tom of a glass which was filled with the gas, and 
it expired in less than a minute. 

It was emptied from one glass to another, and 
continued to occupy its station in the glasses for 
some minutes, evincing its presence by continuing 
to extinguish flame, &c. 

A small quantity of the gas was pressed from 
the bladder into a glass vessel containing a quan- 
tity of pure transparent lime-water. It immedi- 
ately became milky, and threw down a white pre- 
cipitate, which dissolved in dilute muriatic acid with 
a strong effervescence. 

Litmus paper, a little moistened and immersed 
in a glass containing the gas was immediately col- 
oured red, but retained its florid colour no longer 
than it retained its moisture. 



94 CONGRESS SPRING. 

A quantity of the gas was passed up from the 
bladder into a graduated glass jar, filled with and 
inverted in a solution of caustic potash. A large 
proportion of the gas was almost immediately ab- 
sorbed by the solution, while a very small quantity 
remained in the top of the jar apparently unaffect- 
ed by it. Gas was continued to be added to the 
contents of the jar until its graduated sides indica- 
ted a quantity of ten inches, which remained and 
continued undissolved by the caustic solution. To 
test the properties of the remaining ten inches, a 
piece of phosphorus was secured to the end of a 
wire and passed up into the gas a and being brought 
close to the side of this jar, was ignited by the cau- 
tious application of a heated iron to the outside. 
It burned for a moment with its usual brilliancy, 
but soon became dim and went out. It was again 
lit, by the re-application of the hot iron, but was 
extinguished in the same breath, and could not 
again be rekindled, although it was slightly fused 
by the application of the iron. The gas in the jar 
was at first a little dilated, but after being cooled 
to its former temperature, it was found to have 
sustained a diminution of bulk to the amount of 
about two inches, or one fifth of the whole ; thus 
demonstrating that the gas, remaining unaffected 
by the operation of the solution of caustic potash, 
was pure atmospheric air. 



GASEOUS CONTENTS. 95 

From the results of these experiments, then, we 
are bound to infer that the gas which escapes in 
such profusion from this spring consists simply of 
the carbonic acid, with a small proportion of at- 
mospheric air. To ascertain the proportions of 
each, and the amount contained in a given quan- 
tity of the water, the following method was adop- 
ted : 

A tin bottle or jar, of the capacity of two quarts 
or 115.5 cubic inches, was procured, and its mouth 
secured and rendered perfectly tight by the appli- 
cation of a well adjusted stopcock ; to this was 
nicely fitted one end of a small flexible leaden 
tube, about two feet in length, at the other end of 
which was attached a capacious and well prepared 
bladder. This jar was filled with the water to be 
examined, at the spring, and the stopcock imme- 
diately applied and secured. It was then placed 
in a water bath, and the bladder connected with 
the flexible tube being previously well emptied, 
was suspended in a large glass vessel fitted for the 
purpose, and filled with pure water of the tempe- 
rature of 60 deg. The tube having received a 
proper curvature, was connected with the stop- 
cock. Heat was now applied to the bath in which 
the jar containing the water was placed, the valve 
of the cock opened, and the gas suffered to escape 



96 CONGRESS SPRING. 

through the tube into the bladder, which, as it di- 
lated, forced the water in which it was suspended 
over into a glass jar prepared for its reception and 
gauged to half inches. It is obvious that the quan- 
tity of water remaining in the graduated jar at the 
end of the process would indicate very accurately 
the quantity of gas received in the bladder. 

This apparatus for determining the quantity of 
gas contained in the water, aside from the mercu- 
rial trough, is unquestionably the best that could 
be adopted, and is in effect the same as that re- 
commended by the late Sir Humphrey Davy in 
his analysis of soils. It however subjects the ex- 
periment to the probability of some trifling inaccu- 
racies. It is obvious that the walls of the wet blad- 
der may absorb a small proportion of the carbonic 
acid, and thereby render the quantity apparently 
less than what it really is ; and it is equally certain 
that the quantity of atmospheric air contained in 
the tube, together with the small quantity remain- 
ing in the bladder, (for it cannot be entirely ex- 
cluded,) must add somewhat to the quantity ob- 
tained. The difference, however, in the result is 
too trifling to merit a serious consideration. The 
reception of the gas over mercury would unques- 
tionably be attended with the greatest degree of 
accuracy ; but the difficulty of procuring a suffi- 



GASEOUS CONTENTS. 97 

cient quantity of that article in the country for the 
purpose of accurate experiments, entirely preclud- 
ed the possibility of having recourse to that method. 

With this apparatus, adjusted in the manner just 
described, two quarts or 115.5 cubic inches of the 
water of this spring afforded 159 inches of gas, at 
the temperature of 60 deg. and a pressure of the 
atmosphere, indicated by the mercury of the ba- 
rometer, standing at 29.5 inch. Of this 1 59 inches, 
155.5 were absorbed by a solution of caustic pot- 
ash, leaving 3.5 inches on which the solution had 
no effect. The proportion of the two gases, then, 
contained in two quarts of the water, will stand 
thus : 

Inch. 
Carbonic acid gas, 155.5 

Atmospheric air, 3.5 

Amount contained in 2 qts. of water, 159.5 

It is rendered more than probable, from the re- 
sult of repeated experiments, that the quantity of 
gas contained in a given quantity of the water is 
not always exactly the same. The variation, how- 
ever, is never sufficient to produce any perceptible 
difference in the sensible qualities of the water, as 
it appears always to retain in combination consid- 
erably more than its bulk, besides a considerable 



98 CONGRESS SPRING. 

quantity of disengaged or free carbonic acid. The 
same quantity of water has afforded at different 
times, under exactly similar states of temperature 
and pressure of the atmosphere, 150, 156, 159, 
164 and 170 cubic inches. From two quarts of 
the water that had been exposed in an open ves- 
sel for twenty-four hours, in a temperature of 60 
degrees, was obtained 142 cubic inches of gas. 

It would therefore appear that the difference in 
these results arises principally from the free car- 
bonic acid diffused in the water, being in a greater 
or less quantity, and not from any deficiency or 
increase in that portion of the gas retained in it in 
a state of combination or solution. 

The portion of free or uncombined gas must be 
considerably affected by the frequent and violent 
agitation of the water in the well, occasioned by 
the process of dipping it out for use, and in filling 
bottles for transportation ; and to this circumstance 
may be imputed the variations alluded to. But it 
is not impossible that the quantity of the gas extri- 
cated from the interior of the earth, under various 
circumstances and at different times, should be- 
come more or less abundant. 



SOLID CONTENTS. 99 



EXAMINATION OF THE SOLID CONTENTS OF 
THE WATERS. 

It has already been shown, by the application of 
tests, &c. that some of the solid ingredients which 
form a constituent part of the contents of the wa- 
ter, are in such minute quantities as to require the 
evaporation of a large portion in order to arrive at 
accurate results in estimating their quantities, while 
others enter so liberally into its composition as to 
be more readily and accurately determined by sep- 
arating them from a much less quantity of the wa- 
ter. The following process was adopted : 

A given quantity of the water was taken fresh 
from the spring and placed in a clean porcelain 
basin, and suffered to evaporate in a water bath 
heated by a small lamp, and kept at a temperature 
in no instance exceeding 160 deg. of Fahrenheit. 
The basin was secured from the intrusion of for- 
eign substances by a cover of two or three folds of 
fine crape. • In this manner it was suffered to dry 
gradually away, until cubic crystals began to form 
along the sides of the basin. It was then remov- 
ed from the bath, and, while warm, thrown upon 
a filter, and the insoluble mass well washed with 



100 CONGRESS SPRING. 

hot recently distilled water, and then carefully re- 
moved from the filter into a glass basin, which 
was placed in a water bath, and its contents dried 
in a temperature of 212 deg. In this way the sol- 
id contents of the water were divided into two 
parts, soluble and insoluble. 

Examination of the soluble parts. 
Two separate parcels of the soluble salts or fil- 
tered solutions, each obtained from forty-five cu- 
bic inches of the water, were subjected to the fol- 
lowing examination : 

Parcel 1st was placed in a glass basin and 
evaporated in a water bath to dryness, at a low 
temperature. The remaining crystallized mass was 
finely pulverized in a glass mortar, and again dri- 
ed at a temperature of 160 de'g. for several hours. 
Over this dry saline residuum was poured a small 
quantity of alcohol, of the specific gravity of 0.815. 
After standing some time and being frequently 
agitated, the whole was thrown on a filter, and 
what remained on the paper, after being well wash- 
ed by repeated applications of small quantities of 
alcohol, was again dried and numbered 1. The 
alcoholic solution was evaporated to dryness at a 
low temperature, and again digested in a much 
smaller quantity of alcohol, of the game specific 



SOLID CONTENTS. 101 

gravity as before. A few very minute cubic crys- 
tals remained undissolved by this last portion of the 
alcohol. They consisted of the muriate of soda, 
which had been taken up by the larger portion of 
the alcohol used in the first washing of the saline 
mass. They were transferred to No. L The al- 
coholic solution was again evaporated and dried, 
and weighed while warm something more than 0.7 
of a grain. This was dissolved in a cold solution 
of starch, in a small test tube, and a drop or two 
of dilute sulphuric acid added. The whole immedi- 
ately assumed a deep purple tinge, which, on stand- 
ing some time, was precipitated with the starch, 
giving to it the well known characteristic blue col- 
our afforded by the presence of Iodine. A few 
bubbles of chlorine gas were passed into the mix- 
ture. The blue colour faded immediately and dis- 
appeared. 

An equal quantity of this salt, obtained from the 
same quantity of the water and in the same way, 
was dissolved in a fluid drachm of pure water, to 
which a drop or two of the muriate of platina was 
added. No indications of potash were manifested ; 
the solution remained scarcely altered in its col- 
our, and no precipitate appeared. 
i 2 



102 CONGRESS SPRING* 

Iodine may exist in a mineral water in the state 
of an iodic or hydriodic acid, combined with either 
of the alkalies, potash or soda forming the iodate 
or hydriodate of the alkali with which they are 
united. The presence of potash is only indicated 
in the water by experimenting on large portions ; 
it is not satisfactorily indicated even in the residu- 
um of a gallon, and not at all in that obtained from 
forty-five cubic inches of the water, as has just 
been shown. It follows, therefore, that soda is 
the alkaline base which retains the acid in ques- 
tion, forming the iodate or hydriodate of soda. 

It has already been shown that alcohol dissolves 
the whole of the substance which discovers the 
presence of iodine ; and as iodate of soda is not 
soluble in that menstrum, we are bound to infer 
that the salt in question is the hydriodate of soda. 

The inconsiderableness of this salt afforded by 
the above quantity of the water not admitting of 
all the accuracy desirable in estimating the quan- 
tity of so important an article, recourse was had 
to another process ; the dry soluble salts obtained 
from two gallons, or 462 cubic inches of the wa- 
ter, was submitted to the action of alcahol with the 
same precaution as before related, and from this 
quantity was obtained a trifle over 7 grains. It 



SOLID CONTENTS. 103 

exhibited all the characteristic properties of the 
hydriodate of soda already noticed, and in addi- 
tion afforded evidences of containing a trace of 
bromine and potash : substances, the character 
and properties of which will be investigated in an- 
other paragraph. 

This seven grains of the hydriodate of soda, to- 
gether with several other smaller parcels of the 
same salt obtained at different times from different 
quantities of the water, were together placed in a 
Florence flask and dissolved in an ounce or two of 
pure water ; the flask was placed over a spirit 
lamp, and as its contents became hot, a few drops 
of sulphuric acid were added to the solution, when 
the well known purple fumes of iodine appeared 
very conspicuous at the neck of the flask, furnish- 
ing the most incontestible evidence of the pres- 
ence of that substance. 

Having thus finished the investigation relating 
to the presence and quantity of iodine, the further 
separation of the soluble salts was resumed. The 
mass numbered 1 of parcel I, which remained af- 
ter the action of the alcohol, was dissolved in an 
ounce of pure water, and dilute acetic acid added in 
small quantities at a time as long as any efferves- 
cence was produced. The whole was then dried 



104 CONGRESS SPRING. 

at a low temperature, and again digested in alco- 
hol of the same specific gravity as before ; it was 
filtered, and the filtered solution evaporated, and 
a quantity of acetate of soda procured. This was 
subjected to a low red heat, in a platina capsule, 
the acetic acid was thus expelled, and the sub-car- 
bonate of soda remained, weighing 1.25 grains, 
equivalent to 1.75 grains of the bi-carbonate ; in 
which state it probably enters into the composi- 
tion of the water. 

The remaining saline substance was dissolved 
in a quantity of pure water, in a suitable precipi- 
tating glass, and to the clear solution was added a 
solution of the nitrate of silver ; it was added in 
small quantities at a time, as long as any turbid- 
ness was produced* It was then filtered, washed 
with repeated portions of distilled water, and the 
precipitate carefully dried ; it afforded 182.5 
grains of chloride of silver, equivalent to 75 grains 
of the chloride of sodium, or sea salt. 

In order to test the accuracy of the foregoing 
results, parcel II, which had been reserved for this 
purpose, was evaporated, its contents dried and 
digested in alcohol, with the same precautions as 
parcel I, and exactly the same quantity of hydria- 
date of soda obtained. The remaining salts were 



SOLID CONTENTS, 105 

dissolved in two ounces of pure water, and a solu- 
tion of muriate of barytes added in small portions, 
as long as any precipitate or discoloration was pro- 
duced. The precipitate was now obtained on a 
filter, washed with pure water, and carefully dri- 
ed ; it weighed 2.3 grains. It dissolved entire in 
dilute muriatic acid with effervescence, and was 
rendered insoluble in water by the addition of 
sulphuric acid. It was therefore the carbonate of 
barytes, the muriate of which had been decompo- 
sed ; the muriatic acid of the barytes had united 
to the soda, forming muriate of soda, while the 
carbonic acid of the soda had united to the divor- 
ced barytes, forming the insoluble salt, carbonate 
of barytes, 2.3 grains of which is equivalent to 
1.25 grains of the sub-carbonate of soda, or 1.75 
of the bi-carbonate, as near as weights and scales 
can be supposed to make it, 

This result, corresponding so nearly with the 
other, might give to this mode of separating the 
carbonate of soda from the muriate the prefer- 
ence, provided the carbonate of magnesia be pres- 
ent ; the muriate of barytes is not decomposed by 
that substance, but will remain in solution with 
the muriate of soda when the carbonate of soda 
is all decomposed. The magnesia may then be 
converted into a muriate by the addition of dilute 



106 CONGRESS SPRING. 

muriatic acid, the whole dried, and the muriate of 
magnesia taken up by alcohol. This process was 
adopted in the present instance, but no muriate of 
magnesia was procured. It is to be presumed there- 
fore that the carbonate of magnesia is not held in 
solution with the soluble salts, at least not in suf- 
ficient jquantity to be appreciated. 

The discovery of iodine and bromine in some 
of the mineral springs of Europe led to the con- 
jecture that they might be found to enter into the 
composition of the waters of Saratoga, and this 
conjecture was strengthened by the knowledge of 
their great efficacy in the cure of a variety of stru- 
mus affections, for which their known properties 
did not very satisfactorily account. 

Iodine was first detected in these waters in the 
fall of 1828, and announced in 1829, in the Ame- 
rican Journal of Science ; and Mr. A. A. Hayes, 
of New-Haven, detected bromine and potash, and 
announced the discovery in the same Journal in 
July, 1830. 

The spare quantity afforded by the water of 
the two last substances, makes it necessary to op- 
erate on a large portion in order to obtain deci- 
sive evidence of their presence. Mr. Hayes say9 



SOLID CONTENTS. 107 

that he obtained the knowledge of the fact from 
" a portion of the dry saline matter left after evap- 
orating a large quantity of the water." It has al- 
ready been shown that their existence in a gallon 
of the water is at least equivocal. 

With a view to corroborate the result of the 
experiments already noticed, the saline residuum 
of four gallons, or 924 cubic inches of the water 
was procured, effused in distilled water, filtered, 
and the filtered solution evaporated by a slow pro- 
cess, until a large portion of the muriate of soda 
had crystallized ; the remaining liquor was treated 
with chlorine gas, and then agitated with a portion 
of pure sulphuric ether. On the addition of chlo- 
rine the liquid assumed an orange yellow colour, 
which was all taken up by the ether, which then 
became of a hyacinth or reddish brown tint, arose 
to the surface, and formed a perfect line of dis- 
tinction in the liquid contents of the glass; the 
etherial solution was removed by means of a glass 
syringe, and a drop or two of a solution of caus- 
tic potash added to it, it immediately became col- 
ourless, and on suffering the solution to evaporate 
in a low temperature, a few minute cubic crystals 
of the hydro-bromate of potash were deposited. 



108 CONGRESS SPRING. 

Another portion of the salts produced from four 
gallons of the water was obtained and prepared as 
above by concentrating the solution of the soluble 
salts, until nearly all the muriate of soda was crys- 
tallized. To the clear yellowish coloured liquor 
which remained was added a few drops of the mu- 
riate of platina. It produced an immediate fine 
yellow coloured precipitate, indicating the pres- 
ence of a small quantity of potash. 

These experiments fully establish the existence 
of bromine in this water. It is in the state of the 
hydro-bromic acid united to potash, forming the 
hydro-bromate of potash ; its quantity, however, 
is extremely small, and can only be accurately de- 
termined by more extensive and labored opera- 
tions. 

Examination of the Insoluble parts. 
Having thus separated and determined the quan- 
tities of the various ingredients soluble in pure wa- 
ter, the saline mass remaining on the filter, after 
the action of that fluid, was next submitted to ex- 
amination. 

The whole quantity of this substance obtained 
from 45 cubic inches of the water was placed in a 
Florence flask, and dilute nitric acid poured over 



SOLID CONTENTS. 109 

it as long as any effervescence was produced, the 
acid was then added in slight excess, and the 
flask placed over a spirit lamp, and its contents 
suffered to boil for half an hour ; it was then re- 
moved from the stand, and when cold, a minute 
quantity of a grayish white powder was observed 
in the bottom of the flask, which remained undis- 
solved by the operation of the dilute acid ; this was 
separated from the clear solution on a filter, and 
after being well washed with distilled water, was 
dried at a low red heat in a platina crucible. It 
produced a whitish coloured powder, of a rough 
dry feeling when rubbed between the fingers, and 
when fused with a little carbonate of soda produ- 
ced a greenish coloured glass. It was therefore 
pure silix. It weighed as near as could be ascer- 
tained 0.25 grains. 

The filtered solution was then placed in a pre- 
cipitating glass, and a small quantity of a solution 
of pure ammonia added ; it produced a brownish 
coloured cloud in the clear solution, which, after 
adding a sufficient quantity of the ammonia, sub- 
sided to the bottom of the, flask in the form of a 
brown sediment. This was removed by filtering, 
and, being well washed, was dried and brought 
to a red heat in a platina crucible, and was then 
again dissolved in dilute nitric acid, and again pre- 



HO CONGRESS SPRING. 

cipitated by ammonia, filtered, and the filtered so- 
lution added to that of the previous process. 
What remained on the filter was dried again at a 
red heat, and was the pure red or per-oxide of 
iron, and weighed about 0.75 of a grain. The 
quantity, however, of this, as well as that of the 
silix, will, for the sake of greater accuracy, be de- 
termined from a larger portion of the water. 

After thus separating the silix and iron, the re- 
maining solution, consisting of the nitrate of lime 
and magnesia, was transferred to a porcelain evap- 
orating basin, and suffered to evaporate over a 
moderate heat until crystals began to appear. The 
nitrate was then converted into a sulphate, by ad- 
ding dilute sulphuric acid in excess, and evaporat- 
ing the new compound nearly to dryness. The 
residuum was then transferred to a platina cruci- 
ble, and gradually brought to a low red heat. 
What remained consisted purely of sulphate of 
lime and magnesia, and weighed, while warm, 41.5 
grains. To separate these two salts, a saturated 
solution of sulphate of lime in distilled water was 
used ; it dissolved the sulphate of magnesia, which 
was filtered from the remaining insoluble sulphate 
of lime, and this last was again dried at a low red 
heat, and weighed while warm 24 grains, equiva- 
lent to 19.11 grains of the carbonate of lime. 



SOLID CONTENTS. Ill 

The sulphate of lime in solution with the sulphate 
of magnesia was separated by the oxalate of ammo- 
nia, carefully added, the solution filtered, evapora- 
ted, and the residual salt brought to a red heat, 
and weighed while warm exactly 17.5 grains. It 
was the sulphate of magnesia, equivalent to 12.25 
grains of the carbonate of magnesia, or 18.66 grains 
of the bi-carbonate. 

To determine with more precision the actual 
quantity of iron, one gallon of the water was evap- 
orated, and the insoluble part of its residuum ob- 
tained by filtering, dissolved in dilute nitric acid, 
and boiled for the space of half an hour in a Flor- 
ence flask. The silix which remained undissolved 
by the acid in the flask was separated, and, after 
b.eing subjected to a red heat, weighed while warm 
1.5 grains. The iron was then precipitated by 
the addition of a solution of pure ammonia, as be- 
fore described, dried at a red heat, and then re- 
dissolved in dilute nitric acid, to free it from any 
impurities which might have been precipitated 
along with it by the action of the caustic ammonia 
in the first operation. It was again precipitated 
in the same way, dried at a red heat in a platina 
crucible, and weighed while warm 3.5 grains. It 
was the red, or per-oxide of iron, equivalent to 
5.075 grains of the carbonate of iron, 



112 CONGRESS SPRING- 



RECAPITULATION. 



From the foregoing experiments and deductions, 
one gallon, or 231 cubic inches, of the water of 
the Congress Spring contains the following sub- 
stances, viz. 

Chloride of Sodium, (sea salt) 385.0 

Hydriodate of Soda, 3.5 

Bi-carbonate of Soda, 8.982 

Bi-carbonate of Magnesia, 95. 788 

Carbonate of Lime, 98.098 

Carbonate of Iron, 5.075 

Silix, 1.5 

Hydro-bromate of Potash, a trace. 

597.943 grs. 
Carbonic acid gas, 311 

Atmospheric air, 7 



Gaseous contents, 318 cubic inches. 

Water, at the usual temperature and pressure of 
the atmosphere, can only dissolve its own bulk of 
carbonic acid. As this water contains nearly one 
third more than that quantity, it becomes a sub- 
ject of some interest to ascertain by what means 
it acquires so large a proportion of this gas. 



RECAPITULATION. 



113 



It is well known that the sub-carbonates of soda 
and magnesia, when dissolved in water saturated 
with carbonic acid, receive an additional portion of 
the acid, and become bi-carbonates. These bi-car- 
bonates are however decomposed by the applica- 
tion of heat, and at the temperature of boiling wa- 
ter, or 212°, they part with the additional portion 
of the acid, and become again sub-carbonates, in 
which state these salts j^e obtained from the wa- 
ter after boiling. The quantity of carbonic acid 
given off in this way by the bi-carbonates of soda 
and magnesia passing into sub-carbonates, will ac- 
count very satisfactorily for the quantity obtained 
from the water over and above its bulk. 

It will be observed that the quantity of carbonic 
acid obtained from one gallon exceeds its bulk by 
80 cubic inches, which, allowing 100 cubic inches 
to weigh 46.57 grains, will amount to 37.25 grains ; 
and the additional portion of carbonic acid taken 
up by the quantity of soda and magnesia found in 
the water, in order to constitute the bi-carbonates, 
will amount to about 35.5 grains, a correspondence 
sufficiently accurate to justify the position here ta- 
ken. 

This water has been repeatedly analyzed by a 
number of professed chemists ; but the results of 

K 2 



114 CONGRESS SPRING, 

their examinations have been so discordant as to af- 
ford but little confidence in their correctness. 
These results, however, do not differ so much in 
the variety of the articles produced, as in the quan- 
tities of those acknowledged to be present. Much 
of this difference may be imputed to the various 
methods adopted to separate the constituent proper- 
ties, and to the different states in which these prop- 
erties are produced ; some of them being in a state 
of crystallization containing a large portion of wa- 
ter, while the same article is obtained under an- 
other process in a perfectly dry state, producing an 
essential difference in the apparent quantity. But 
the greatest cause of the discordant results is the 
transportation of the water from the spring. It is 
usually bottled, perhaps imperfectly corked, trans- 
ported to a considerable distance, and then suffer- 
ed to stand in a quiescent state, subjected to a vari- 
ety of temperature, until the convenience of the 
chemist affords an opportunity for its examination. 
In this way it must necessarily part with a large 
share of its carbonic acid, and the substances held 
in solution by it are of course precipitated. Hence 
no iron, or but equivocal traces of it, are obtained 
from the water thus procured ; while at the foun- 
tain, its presence is clearly demonstrated by the 
most simple experiments : indeed, the mere deposit 
from the water, as it passes from the spring, affords 



RECAPITULATION. 



115 



mcontestible evidence of its presence. It is there- 
fore abundantly evident, that in order to obtain any 
thing like an accurate knowledge of the proper- 
ties and proportions of the various salts which en- 
ter into the composition of this water, the analysis 
should be conducted on the spot. 

The late Professor Dana suggested the idea, that 
some of the substances obtained from the water by 
analysis, might be the product of the operation, 
and not an original ingredient ; and added, that 
" carbonate of soda and muriate of magnesia might 
exist in solution together in this dilute state, without 
their mutual affinities being exerted ; but when 
the solution was concentrated, carbonate of mag- 
nesia and muriate of soda would be formed ;" and 
he therefore inferred, that instead of the muriate of 
soda and carbonate of magnesia, as procured from 
a quantity of this water, the basis of these two 
salts actually existed in the water in the state of 
the muriate of magnesia and carbonate of soda. 

This subject has been subsequently investigated 
by Dr. Murray. He alleges, from numerous exper- 
iments, that from evaporating the solvent, he pro- 
cured salts different from those known to be in the 
solution. This induced him to call in question the 
usual modes of analysis ; and he proposed anoth- 



116 CONGRESS SPRING. 

er method of determining the state of combination 
of the ingredients obtained from mineral waters, 
founded upon the principle that the force of affin- 
ity is much influenced by the operation of external 
circumstances ; and that when these occur, com- 
pounds may be formed different from those which 
owe their origin to the pure force of affinity. Pro- 
fessor Brande, however, of the royal institution of 
London, will not admit the existence of incompat- 
ible salts to the extent which Dr. Murray's princi- 
ple requires. 

Be this as it may, facts do not warrant the be- 
lief that the operation of the principle, if establish- 
ed, is exerted in the formation of any of the salts 
contained in this water. If a part of the muriatic 
acid, which goes to form the muriate of soda in the 
concentrated solution, is really united to the mag- 
nesia or lime while in a more dilute state, it fol- 
lows of course, that the quantity of the carbonate 
of soda at the same time must be considerably in- 
creased ; but this does not appear to be the fact. 
The application of appropriate tests to the water 
fresh from the spring, indicate but faintly the pres- 
ence of a carbonated alkali ; but as the water is 
concentrated, the existence of this article becomes 
more and more apparent ; whereas, directly the 



MEDICAL HISTORY. 117 

reverse of this would be the case, if the suggestion 
of Professor Dana was correct. It is therefore 
more than probable that the substances obtained 
are actually those which enter into the compo- 
sition of the water, and constitute its active medi- 
cinal properties, 

MEDICAL HISTORY. 

The medicinal qualities of this spring have ac- 
quired for it a reputation abroad to which no oth- 
er fountain in the United States has yet attained ; 
and it is highly probable, from the active ingredi- 
ents which enter into its composition, that it will 
continue to retain an ascendency which has been 
so liberally and so justly conferred upon it. Such 
are its rare and peculiar qualities, that while it op- 
erates as an active and efficient medicine, it possess- 
es the properties of an agreeable and delightful bev- 
erage ; and it is daily sought after and drank by all 
classes of people, for no other purpose than simply 
to gratify the palate or to allay the thirst. And al- 
though in this way it is frequently taken in suffi- 
cient quantities to produce its most active effects 
upon the bowels, it is seldom, if ever, known to 
be attended with any unpleasant consequences, but 
is always considered by those who thus use it as 
invigorating and healthy. 



118 CONGRESS SPRING. 

From one to three pints of the water, taken in 
the morning before eating, usually operates freely 
as a cathartic, and at the same time has a most 
powerful effect in increasing the ordinary secre- 
tions of the kidneys ; but its operation, like Jhat of 
all other medicines, is much influenced by the 
condition of the stomach and bowels at the time of 
receiving it, as well as by the state of the system 
generally. It therefore frequently happens that a 
much larger quantity seems to be required, in or- 
der to produce its characteristic effect upon the 
bowels ; and invalids have been known to drink 
twenty, thirty and even forty tumblers full of it in 
a morning without much apparent inconvenience. 
It requires, however, but a slight acquaintance 
with the properties of the water, to satisfy any ra- 
tional mind, that such a procedure is highly im- 
proper and even dangerous. Quantities so immod- 
erate can never be useful to persons who are either 
infirm or in health ; and there are numerous in- 
stances in which they have produced consequen- 
ces of a very alarming character. 

It is a cathartic, possessing evidently interesting 
and important qualities, and as such it is recom- 
mended and used in all those chronic diseases 
where cathartics and gentle aperients are indica- 
ted ; and such are its peculiar effects, when judi- 



MEDICAL HISTORY. 119 

ciously administered, that it may be persevered in 
for almost any length of time, and a daily increas- 
ed evacuation from the bowels produced without 
debilitating the alimentary canal, or in any way 
impairing the digestive powers of the stomach ; 
but on the contrary, the spirits, appetite and gen- 
eral health will be improved and invigorated. 

It is obvious that the mode and management of 
taking the water must depend altogether upon the 
nature of the case for which it is administered, and 
the consequent kind of effect desired to be pro- 
duced from it. As it is directed simply for its 
cathartic or aperient properties, it is in almost 
all cases important that its operation should be 
speedily and promptly effected. The quantity re- 
quired to produce the effect desired must be varied 
with different persons ; and even the same persons 
at different times, and under different circumstan- 
ces, will require different portions. It is therefore 
impossible to fix upon any certain quantity that will 
apply in all cases : much must be left to the judg- 
ment and discretion of the invalid himself. In or- 
dinary cases, three pints taken on an empty stom- 
ach, an hour or two before eating, and followed 
by a proper share of exercise, will be found amply 
sufficient for all the purposes required. Should 
this quantity however be found inadequate to the 



120 CONGRESS SPRING. 

effect, it will be better to relinquish the use of it 
altogether for the day, than to attempt to produce 
a different result by additional potations of the wa- 
ter. On the following morning the quantity may 
be increased to another pint ; and should there be 
fears of the inadequacy of this quantity from ex- 
treme constipation of the bowels or other causes, 
a tea-spoonful or two of epsom salts may be add- 
ed to the first tumbler. This will insure a compe- 
tent operation, and the invalid will soon be ena- 
bled by his experience to determine the quantity 
which his case requires. 

In cases where the stomach and bowels have 
been for a long time subjected to the effect of mor- 
bid excitement, and the whole system enervated 
by the deranged functions of the assimilating or- 
gans, the quantity here recommended will be al- 
together inadmissible. The effects of distention, 
and the abstraction of temperature consequent up- 
on admitting so large a quantity of cold water in- 
to a stomach thus enfeebled, can scarcely fail of 
being highly detrimental. Reliance therefore must 
not be placed upon the water, in these cases, to 
move the bowels ; it can only be used as an auxili- 
ary to that purpose, and should always be associa- 
ted with some other cathartic medicine suited to 
the particular case. A little magnesia, magnesia 



MEDICAL HISTORY. 121 

and rheubarb or a laxative pill may be taken over 
night, and a tea-spoon or two full of the sulphate 
of potass or magnesia, combined with a glass or 
two of the water in the morning, is usually advised. 

The proper time for drinking the water of this 
spring is unquestionably in the morning — an hour 
or two before breakfast ; indeed, as a general rule, 
it should not be meddled with at any other period 
of the day ; and it would be much better for those 
whose complaints render them fit subjects for its 
administration, if the fountain should be locked up 
and no one suffered to approach it after the hour 
of nine or ten in the morning. 

Nothing can be more absurd than the ridiculous 
practice of taking large potations of this water at 
all hours of the day, and particularly, immediately 
after meals. The impropriety of evacuating the 
contents of the stomach and bowels before the 
assimilating powers of digestion have accomplish- 
ed their labors, must be obvious to every one. It 
should therefore only be taken in the morning be- 
fore eating, when its operation will be exerted in 
removing the fetid remnants of an impaired diges- 
tion, and evacuating the sordid and irritating ac- 
cumulations induced by an enfeebled state of the 
intestinal canal. When this effect is produced, 



122 



CONGRESS SPRING. 



the water has accomplished all that can reasona- 
bly be expected from its use ; and the digestive 
organs being freed from their offensive feculent 
burthen, are left in a condition to act with better 
effect on the subsequent aliment which may be 
presented to them. 

The invalid, whose health and strength will ad- 
mit of it, should always rise as early as six o'clock 
at farthest, and when the weather is suitable, re- 
pair to the spring, and take the water at the foun- 
tain head. The exercise necessarily connected 
with this mode of drinking the water, together 
with the invigorating effect of a wholesome atmos- 
phere and amusing company, add much to its ef- 
ficacy as a medicine. 

The manner of drinking the water at the foun- 
tain requires but little attention. It is dipped from 
the spring in half pint tumblers, one of which 
constitutes a very suitable quantity for a single 
draught. As it is intended to move the bowels, it 
is necessary that these draughts should be repeat- 
ed in as quick succession as the condition of the 
stomach will permit. As soon as the sense of 
fullness occasioned by the first tumbler has pass- 
ed off, another may be taken, and so on until the 
quantity necessary to move the bowels has all 



MEDICAL HISTORY. 123 

been drank. This is usually accomplished in the 
course of half an hour, without materially disturb- 
ing the tranquility of the stomach, and its effect 
is seldom delayed beyond the limits of an hour. 
Should this be the case, however, and no opera- 
tion effected before the period of breakfeast ar- 
rives, a cup of coffee or tea, connected with a 
light repast and suitable exercise, will seldom fail 
of producing a speedy termination to the delay. 

The low temperature of the water, in some ca- 
ses, forms a serious objection to its being drank 
to the extent that is required. This may be rem- 
edied in some measure by securing the water in 
well corked bottles, and suffering them to stand in 
the room over night. In this situation the tem- 
perature of the water is elevated to that of the at- 
mosphere of the room, and may be drank with less 
danger of producing chills. When these do suc- 
ceed, after the above precaution, recourse is some- 
times had to plunging the bottle into warm water 
a few times before removing the cork. This will 
unquestionably remedy the evil ; but the water 
will be more apt to produce nausea and other un- 
pleasant disturbances of the stomach, not less inju- 
rious to the good effect to be expected from its 
use than that of chills. 



124 CONGRESS SPRING. 

It should always be remembered, that by eleva- 
ting the temperature of the water to any extent, 
the escape of its carbonic acid becomes abundant, 
and it is thereby deprived of one of its most impor- 
tant ingredients, the loss of which renders it ex- 
tremely insipid, and its effects are by no means so 
pleasant or useful. 

The property of this fountain has, within a few 
years, passed from the heirs of the late Henry and 
John Livingston into the hands of John Clarke 
and Thomas Lynch of New-York, who are now 
the sole proprietors and owners of it. These gen- 
tlemen have made it an object of their special care 
and attrition, and it is to their liberality that the 
public are indebted for the convenient and cleanly 
manner in which the water is presented to them at 
the well, and for the improvements that have been 
made and are still making in its immediate vicini- 
ty. They are likewise entitled to great credit for 
the care and attention which they bestow in put- 
ting up the water and preparing it for transporta- 
tion. They are now the only persons through 
whom it can be procured ;* and such has been the 

* Messrs. Lynch and Clarke have reserved to themselves the 
exclusive right of bottling and vending the water, and the pub- 
lic may rely upon receiving it from them in as perfect a state as 
it is capable of retaining when bottled* 



MEDICAL HISTORY. 125 

success of their exertions, and the public estima- 
tion of its value, that it has been introduced into 
almost every part of the world. There is scarce- 
ly a town in the United States of any magnitude 
that is not supplied with it, nor a vessel destined to 
any distant port that does not enumerate the Con- 
gress water in the list of her sea stores or her 
freight. 

The water loses much of its pungency and 
agreeable flavor from being bottled, and its iron is 
entirely deposited. It however retains its aperient 
properties in tolerable perfection, and if properly 
secured and kept in a quiescent state and even 
temperature, may be preserved to any length of 
time. 

The practice of putting the water into wooden 
casks, earthen jugs, or tin canisters, for the pur- 
pose of transportation, as is sometimes done, is but 
little better than placing it in open vessels. It soon 
loses its vivifying gas, and becomes extremely in- 
sipid and offensive. It can only be properly se- 
cured and preserved in strong glass bottles, well 
corked, and the corks fastened by wiring. 

From the known and acknowledged efficacy of 
the water as a medicine, it was inferred that its sa- 



126 CONGRESS SPRING. 

line deposits might answer a valuable purpose in 
cases where the water could not be procured, and 
at one time considerable quantities were manufac- 
tured for sale, by evaporation ; but the imperfect 
solubility of these salts renders them not only disa- 
greeable, but frequently irritating and offensive to 
the stomach, and the present proprietors of the 
spring have very properly prohibited their further 
manufacture. 

Influenced by the popular character of the wa- 
ter, individuals have been induced to attempt an 
artificial composition of it, and, under the imposing 
names of " Congress Water" and " Saratoga Pow- 
ders," articles have been presented to the public 
which, although they possess aperient qualities, in 
reality bear no resemblance, either in their effects 
or their properties, to the mineral water, the name 
of which they have assumed. They may move the 
bowels, it is true, but in this they do not appear to 
possess any superiority over the common Seidlitz 
powder, which is now in every body's hands, and 
which, as a laxative medicine, in all ordinary cases, 
is undoubtedly to be preferred. 



COLUMBIAN SPRING. 



This fountain is situated on the south side of the 
brook, about fifteen or twenty rods directly south- 
west from the Congress. It discovers itself at the 
foot of a steep bank, consisting of loose sand and 
yellow loam. 

The water being confined by a wooden curb, 
rises a few inches above the surface of the sur- 
rounding earth, and escapes through a small hole 
in the side of the curb, made for the purpose. 

The well is sunk in the earth about six feet, and 
such is the supply of water, that it is difficult to 
remove it as fast as it accumulates, even with a 
bucket. 

The surface of the water, when viewed in the 
fountain, does not present the simmering appear- 
ance so conspicuous in the Congress ; but the gas 
breaks up through it in much larger bubbles, at ir- 
regular intervals, giving to the water the resem- 
blance of a more violent ebullition. 



128 COLUMBIAN SPRING. 

The surface of the earth over which the water 
escapes, and the inside of the troughs which con- 
duct it away, as well as the inside of the curb, are 
covered with a thick ferruginous crust of a deep 
brown colour. 

The water itself is quite limpid, and when drank, 
betrays a strong chalybeate taste, and a pungency 
indicative of the presence of a large portion of car- 
bonic acid. In its physical properties generally, 
this water resembles the Congress in all respects, 
excepting its saline impregnation, which is evident- 
ly much less. 

Its temperature at the bottom of the well is uni- 
formly at 50 deg., and its specific gravity at the 
temperature of 60 deg. The barometer, standing 
at 29.5 inches, is 1007.3, pure water being 1000. 

The application of chemical tests to the water of 
this fountain indicates nothing to distinguish it 
from that of the Congress, the same ingredients 
being clearly distinguished in both. They differ, 
however, in the quantities of the articles which they 
respectively hold in solution, as is shown by the 
specific gravity of the two, as well as by the great- 
er or less effect produced by the application of re- 
agents. Indeed, in this respect there is a very per- 
ceptible difference indicated by the taste alone. 



COLUMBIAN SPRING. 129 

By pursuing a process similar to that related in 
the analysis of the Congress water, one gallon, or 
231 cubic inches, of this water yielded the follow- 
ing ingredients, viz. 



Chloride of Sodium, 


267. 


Bi-carbonate of Soda, 


15.4 


Bi-carbonate of Magnesia, 


46.71 


Hydriodate of Soda, 


2.56 


Carbonate of Lime, 


68. 


Carbonate of Iron, 


5.58 


Silix, 


2.05 


Hydro-bromate of Potash, 


scarce- 


ly a trace. 
Solid contents in a gallon, 




407.3 gr. 


Carbonic acid gas, 


272.06 


Atmospheric air, 


4.5 


Gaseous contents in a sail 


on, 276.56 inch 



This spring has been materially improved, by 
clearing out the well and securing it against the 
intrusion of fresh water, by means of a tight curb 
inserted to its bottom. 

The water seldom operates as a cathartic, unless 
when take^i in large quantities, or used by persons 



130 COLUMBIAN SPRING. 

whose stomachs are extremely irritable. Its most 
obvious effects, when taken in proper doses, are 
diuretic, at the same time operating on the secre- 
tions and excretions generally. It likewise mani- 
fests the powers of a mild and pleasant stimulant ; 
and from the large proportion of iron which en- 
ters into its composition, it occupies a distinguish- 
ed rank among the ionic waters which the place 
affords. 



WASHINGTON SPRING. 



Pursuing a south-west direction from the Co- 
lumbian Spring about fifty rods, we come to the 
Washington Spring, situated by the side of a rill of 
very pure water, which has its origin from the banks 
of sand at no great distance. The fountain is sit- 
uated on ground considerably elevated above any 
of the others. It makes its appearance at the sur- 
face through a bed of argillaceous marl of a deep 
blue colour. The water, nevertheless, is remark- 
ably limpid, and has been recently much improv- 
ed, in all its sensible properties, by sinking the well 
to a much greater depth, and securing it by a tight 
wooden curb. 

It is a sparkling acidulous water. Its tempera- 
ture is 50 deg., and its specific gravity, at the tem- 
perature of 60 deg. under the ordinary pressure of 
the atmosphere, is 1007.8, and one gallon of it af- 
fords the following articles, viz. 

Chloride of Sodium, grs. 281.5 

Bi-carbonate of Soda, 1 6.5 

Bi-carbonate of Magnesia, 40.92 

Carbonate of Lime, 92.6 



132 WASHINGTON SPRING. 



Carbonate of Iron, 


3.25 


Silix, 


1.5 


Hydriodate of Soda, 


2.75 


Solid contents in a gallon, 


grs. 439.02 


Carbonic acid gas, 


262.5 


Atmospheric air, 


6.3 


Gaseous contents in a gallon, 


269.3 inch. 



This fountain was resorted to formerly, on ac- 
count of its retired situation, (it being then in a 
forest,) for the purpose of bathing ulcerated 
limbs and eruptive diseases of the body, for the 
cure of which it became quite distinguished. From 
this hint a large and commodious bath-house has 
lately been erected close to the spring, called the 
Washington Bath, which is supplied with mineral 
water from this spring. It has likewise the advan- 
tage of the very pure stream of fresh water which 
passes immediately under the building, for the pur- 
pose of ordinary bathing. 

Near to this spring Mr. Munger has lately erect- 
ed a small fish-pond, which is abundantly supplied 
with pure water from the neighboring sand banks. 
It contains at present some thousands of speck- 



WASHINGTON SPRING. 133 

led trout, which seem to have lost much of their 
native shyness by being thus domesticated. They 
come to the surface in crowds, and devour with 
avidity whatever is thrown in for their suste- 
nance ; and they may be seen at all times bask- 
ing in the shade, or darting along the bottom in 
pursuit of prey. With this pond is enclosed 
about an acre of ground, a part of which is taste- 
fully laid out into walks ; and on the margin of 
the little pool is established a bowling alley and 
billiard table, the whole of which is screened and 
shaded by the native pine and other forest trees, 
forming a very pleasant and quiet spot for retire- 
ment or recreation. 

This fountain, together with the Columbian, con- 
stitute all the mineral waters that have come into 
notice in this direction from the Congress. All 
the other fountains at this place are situated along 
the course of the valley, in a north-east direction, 



HAMILTON SPRING. 



This spring is situated in the low ground about 
fifty rods from the Congress, in a north-east direc- 
tion, immediately in the rear of Congress Hall. It 
was discovered and named after the late General 
Hamilton by Mr. Gideon Putnam, one of the ear- 
ly settlers of the place, not long after the discovery 
of the Congress Spring. It was cleared out to the 
depth of only a few feet, and the water secured by 
a small wooden curb. In this situation it remain- 
ed for a number of years, its waters being devoted 
mostly to the supply of a bathing establishment 
erected in its immediate vicinity. After the de- 
cease of Mr. Putnam, the property passed into oth- 
er hands, and the well has been recently sunk to 
a much greater depth, and more effectually secur- 
ed against the intrusion of foreign substances, by 
which means the water has been materially im- 
proved. 

The surface of the water within the curb is con- 
stantly agitated by the escape of large quantities 
of gas ; and as the water passes off, it leaves on the 
surface of the earth an abundant deposit of a 



HAMILTON SPRING. 135 

brownish colour, evidently ferruginous and calca- 
reous. 

The water, when first taken from the spring, is 
remarkably clear and sparkling ; but, on standing 
exposed to the atmosphere, soon becomes turbid. 
It is saline and acidulous to the taste, and when 
taken to the quantity of five or six half pints, is 
usually cathartic and diuretic. 

The temperature of the bottom of the well is 
uniformly at 50 deg., and its specific gravity at the 
temperature of 60 deg. and under a pressure of the 
atmosphere, indicated by the mercury in the ba- 
rometer standing at thirty inches, is 1008.5, pure 
water being 1000. 

The indications afforded by the application of 
tests correspond with those already noticed in the 
examination of the Congress water ; and by pur- 
suing a process similar to that adopted in the anal- 
ysis of that water, the following ingredients were 
obtained from one gallon, viz. 

grs. 
Chloride of Sodium, 297.3 

Hydriodate of Soda, 3. 

Bi-carbonate of Soda, 27.036 

Bi-carbonate of Magnesia, 35.2 



186 HAMILTON SPRING. 

Carbonate of Lime, 92.4 

Carbonate of Iron, 5.39 

Hydro-bromate of Potash, a 

trace. - 



Solid contents in one gallon, 460.326 grs. 

Carbonic acid gas, 316 

Atmospheric air, 4 



Gaseous contents in a gallon, 320 inches. 

This water ranks first among the springs as a di- 
uretic, and it has long been celebrated for its good 
effects in gravelly and calculous affections. It is 
second only to the Congress in its saline impreg- 
nation, and is frequently used as a substitute for 
the water of the latter spring in all those cases 
where the irritable state of the stomach renders 
the more drastic effects of that water inadmissible. 

In scrofula, and indeed all other indolent swel- 
lings of the glands, the water of this spring, togeth- 
er with that of the Columbian, will unquestionably 
take the preference ; for, although they do not 
contain quite so large a proportion of the iodine as 
is found in the Congress water, they, contain a 
much less quantity of other active saline ingredi- 
ents, which render them less liable to affect the 



HAMILTON SPRING. 



137 



bowels, and their effects upon the system general- 
ly are thereby rendered more certain. 

It is, without doubt, owing to the iodine which 
these waters contain, that they have become so fa- 
mous in the cure of strumous affections ; and the 
water which contains the greatest abundance of 
this article, and is least encumbered with those 
substances that may tend to retard or prevent its 
effects upon the system, should unquestionably 
be directed as the most applicable in these com- 
plaints. 

The Hamilton bath-house is erected close to 
this spring, and is supplied by it with water for its 
mineral baths, which are situated in secure and 
well furnished apartments, prepared either for 
shower bathing or immersing the body in the water, 
which may always, during the season, be procur- 
ed either warm or cold. Fresh water baths are 
also furnished here for those who prefer them, and 
which should always be preferred in cases where 
the bath is used simply as a source of cleanliness. 
The rooms are sufficiently spacious and well ven- 
tilated, and the whole establishment is cleanly and 
well conducted. 

m2 



FLAT ROCK SPRING, 



Following the course of the valley in a north- 
east direction from the Hamilton, about one hun- 
dred rods> we come to the Flat Rock Spring. It 
is situated directly in the rear of the Pavilion, on 
the verge of the marsh, at the foot of a steep bank 
which terminates the west side of the valley, 
through which a small brook passes. This bank 
is composed of argillaceous earth and sand, and is 
elevated about forty feet above the level of the 
brook. 

The earth for some rods around this spring was 
formerly encrusted by a thick bed of calcareous 
tufa, which long exposure to the air had hardened 
into a pretty solid rock ; and from this circum- 
stance the spring received its name. This rock 
was neither more nor less than the usual sediment 
deposited by the water, combined with sand, leaves, 
sticks, &c. for which it was indebted to the wind 
and rain ; and is no more than what happens about 
any of the fountains where the water does not find 
a ready egress, or is suffered to stagnate in their 
immediate vicinity. The progress of improve- 



FLAT ROCK SPRING. 139 

ment has, however, at this time nearly obliterated 
this natural platform, and the spot is now occupi- 
ed by a tasteful little Chinese temple. 

The well has been sunk to the depth of about 
fifteen feet, and a square tube made of plank in- 
serted to its bottom. Through this the water rises 
to the surface of the earth and runs off in a small 
stream, depositing a copious sediment of a dark 
brown colour, along the whole extent of its course 
to the brook, which passes some rods distant. 

The appearance and taste of this water very 
much resemble that of the Columbian, and the 
analysis, conducted upon the same principle, con- 
firms the similarity. 

Its temperature is 48 deg. and its specific grav- 
ity at the temperature of 60 deg. the barometer 
standing at 29.5 inches, is 1006.9, pure water be- 
ing 1000. 

One gallon afforded the following articles, viz. 

Chloride of Sodium, 148.866 

Carbonate of Lime, 60.573 

Bi-carbonate of Magnesia, 42.7 

Bi-carbonate of Soda, 20.79 



140 FLAT ROCK SPRING. 

Carbonate of Iron, 5.39 

Hydriadate of Soda, 1 .33 

Hydro-bromate of Potash a trace in 

four gallons. 
Silix & Alumine a minute quantity. 



Solid contents in one gallon, 279.649 grs. 

Carbonic acid gas, 287.5 cub. inch. 

Atmospheric air, 6.5 inches. 

Gaseous contents in a gallon, 294 cub. inch. 

This water is used in all cases for which the 
Columbian is recommended. It has generally 
been considered one of the best chalybeate springs 
which the place affords, and on that account has 
been the most frequented. It is not improbable 
that there are cases in which this water will an- 
swer a better purpose as a tonic medicine than 
the Columbian, from the circumstance of its con- 
taining a greater quantity of carbonic acid, a less 
quantity of the saline principle, and at the same 
time containing an equal portion of the tonic prop- 
erties. 



HIGH ROCK SPRING. 



Pursuing the course of the valley about one 
hundred rods further in a northerly direction, we 
come to the High Rock Spring ; it is situated near 
the base of a ledge of calcareous rocks which at 
this place mark the westerly side of the valley. 

The rock which gives the name to this spring, 
and surrounds and encloses the fountain, is of a 
conical shape, and apparently rests on the surface 
of the marl, or is but slightly connected with it. 
It narrows rapidly as it rises from the earth, and 
terminates in a rounded top, in the centre of which 
is a circular opening, which leads to the interior 
cavity. This hole gradually widens as the rock en- 
larges, leaving its walls nearly of an equal thick- 
ness throughout. In this cavity the water rises 
some feet above the surface of the surrounding 
earth, and is there seen constantly agitated by the 
incessant escape of carbonic acid gas, for which 
the vacancy above the water forms a capacious 
and secure reservoir, where the curious may at 
any time make the experiment of its deleterious 
effects on animal life. 



142 HIGH ROCK SPRING. 

This rock very justly claims a conspicuous place 
among the interesting natural curiosities which 
our country affords. The venerable Dr. Seaman 
in noticing this singular production observes: 
" The more we reflect upon it, the more we must 
be convinced of the important place this rock 
ought to hold among the wonderful works of na- 
ture. Had it stood upon the borders of the Lago 
d 5 Jlgnano, the noted Grotto del Cani, which bur- 
dens almost every book which treats upon the car- 
bonic acid gas, since the peculiar properties of 
that air have been known, would never have been 
heard of beyond the environs of Naples, while this 
fountain, in its place, would have been deservedly 
celebrated in story, and spread upon canvass, to 
the admiration of the world, as one of its greatest 
curiosities." 

The following dimensions of this singular pro- 
duction of nature were taken from actual meas- 
urement : 

Perpendicular height, four feet. 

Circumference at the base, twenty-six feet eight 
inches. 

Length of a line drawn over the top, from north 
to south, eleven feet seven inches. 



HIGH ROCK SPRING. 143 

Length of the same from east to west, ten feet 
nine inches. 

From the top of the rock to the surface of the 
water, ordinarily, two feet four inches. 

Depth of water in the cavity of the rock, usual- 
ly, seven feet eight inches. 

The hole at the top is nearly circular, and meas- 
ures ten inches across. 

This rock belongs to that species of limestone 
termed calcareous tufa, being evidently the pro- 
duct of the water. It is composed of the carbo- 
nate of lime, magnesia, and the oxide of iron, to- 
gether with a proportion of sand and clay. It 
likewise exhibits, when broken, the impressions of 
leaves and twigs of trees. It is somewhat undu- 
lated on its surface, and about the top compact 
and indurated, while near its base it is of a more 
spongy and friable character, but every where suf- 
ficiently compact to render it impervious to water. 

That the water at some former period issued 
from the cavity and descended upon the sides of 
the rock, will scarcely admit of a doubt ; but the 
precise manner in which the rock was formed, or 
the time when the water used to flow upon its 
surface, is not quite so obvious. The most prob- 
able conjecture is, that the basis of this mass was 



144 HIGH ROCK SPRING. 

commenced beneath the surface of the earth ; that 
the water, thus confined within the limits of its 
own sediment, continued to rise, and as it escaped 
over the sides of its prison, constantly added to the 
dimensions of its walls. In this manner it would 
continue to rise until the column of water in the 
rock balanced the power that forced it up, in 
which case it would become stationary ; and it is 
but just to infer, that in proces of time, the power 
so propelling the water might be diminished in its 
force, when the water in the spring would of 
course sink in exact proportion to the loss of that 
power. 

There was an opinion prevailing among the ear- 
ly settlers, that the rock had been fractured by the 
fall of a tree, and to this accident they imputed 
the failure of the water to run over its top, be- 
lieving that it escaped through a fissure, which, 
although invisible, they still imagined must exist. 
This conjecture, however, does not appear to have 
been well founded. The spring was visited as ear- 
ly as 1767, and no appearance to justify such an 
opinion then presented itself, although the water 
did not at that time reach the top of the rock by 
several inches. 



HIGH ROCK SPRING. 145 

Loran Tarbel, an aged chief of the St. Regis 
tribe of Indians, told the present Chancellor Wal- 
worth, that he visited this spring while a boy ; and 
that he was told by the Indians that the water 
once ran over the top, but owing, as they suppos- 
ed, to some of their women bathing in it when 
they ought not to have done so, the water sunk 
back into the rock and never showed itself again 
at the lop. 

The conspicuous appearance which this rock 
makes, must have introduced it to the notice of 
the natives at a very early period ; and although 
it was probably known and visited by individuals 
whose business called them to the woods, it does 
nort appear to have attracted much attention from 
the white population of the country until about the 
year 1767, when it was first visited by Sir William 
Johnson. From this period, CJ the spring" came 
more rapidly into notice, and for some years this 
was the only one to which much consequence was 
attached. 

The extravagant stories told by the first settlers 
of the astonishing effects of this water in the cure 
of almost every species of disease, are still remem- 
bered and repeated by their too credulous descend- 
ants. This, in conjunction with the singular and 



146 HIGH ROCK SPRING. 

mysterious character of the rock, continue to at- 
tach an importance to the waters, in the eyes of 
the vulgar, at which no other fountain will ever 
arrive 

The temperature at the bottom of the well is 48 
cleg., and its specific gravity at an atmospheric 
pressure, indicated by the barometer standing at 
29.5 inches, is 1006.85, pure water being 1000. 

One gallon of the water afforded the following 
ingredients, viz. 

Chloride of Sodium, 1 89. 1 

Bi-carbonate of Magnesia, 61.592 

Bi-carbonate of Soda, 1 7.538 

Hydriodate of Soda, 2.5 

Carbonate of Lime, 69.29 

Carbonate of Iron, 5.58 

Silix and Alumine, a small quantity. 
Hydro-bromate of Potash, a trace in 

four gallons of the water. 

Solid contents in a gallon, 345.68 grs. 

Carbonic acid gas, 304 

Atmospheric air, 5 

Gaseous contents in a gallon, 309 cub. inch. 



HIGH ROCK SPRING. 147 

Since the discovery of the Congress Spring and 
the extensiye improvements that have been made 
in that vicinity, the water of this fountain, as well 
as that of several others situated in its immediate 
neighborhood, have rather sunk into disuse, and 
the old village, as this part of the town is now term- 
ed, evidently discovers a correspondent desertion ; 
but whatever may be the destiny of the place or 
the credit of the water, no means should be spar- 
ed to protect and secure the rock. It has already 
suffered considerably from the depredations of un- 
principled specimen gatherers, and it will be final- 
ly ruined, unless some more effectual method be 
adopted to prevent it. 



PRESIDENT SPRUNG. 



About thirty rods, in a northeastern direction 
from the High Rock, in the same valley, is situat- 
ed the President Spring. The earth was remov- 
ed to the depth of about four feet, when the spring 
was discovered bubbling up through the fissures in 
a stratum of lime rock, furnishing an ample supply 
of water in the wooden curb which was designed 
to protect and secure it. Within a few years this 
spring, like most of the others, has undergone 
considerable improvement by being more effectu- 
ally secured against the intrusion of fresh water ; 
since which period the temperature and specific 
gravity have become the same as that of the High 
Rock, and the analysis affords the same results. It 
is therefore probable that these two waters have 
their origin from the same source ; for they are 
indeed the same water. 



RED SPRING. 



This spring is situated close to the public high- 
way, about sixty or seventy rods in a north-east- 
ern direction from the President. Large quanti- 
ties of ferruginous deposits are found about it, and 
the water, when agitated, has numerous particles 
of fine sand stained with this substance floating 
about in it, which gives the water a red appear- 
ance, from which circumstance it receives its 
name. 

Popular opinion has given much credit to the 
water of this fountain for its beneficial effects when 
applied to ill-conditioned ulcers and affections of 
the skin ; and for the accommodation of those who 
may wish to use it in this way, a small bath-house 
has lately been erected close to the spring. The 
water, however, does not appear to possess any 
qualities to distinguish it from those which have al- 
ready been described. Its saline impregnation 
is much less than any of the other springs, and its 
gaseous contents are still more deficient when 
compared with those of the other fountains. 



150 RED SPRING. 

Besides the several fountains already enumerat- 
ed and described, there are some others of less no- 
toriety located in the immediate vicinity, among 
which may be mentioned the Barrel Spring, not 
far from the High Rock, the Walton Spring, back 
of the Columbian Hotel, and the Monroe Spring, 
fifteen or twenty rods north from the Flat Rock. 
Both the former, however, are now entirely neg- 
lected ; but near the latter is erected a commodi- 
ous bathing establishment, which this spring sup- 
plies with mineral water. It has likewise the con- 
venience for fresh water bathing, and the house is 
cleanly and well attended* 



TEN SPRINGS. 



Pursuing the course of the same valley, about 
one mile from the High Rock in an eastern direc- 
tion, we come to the Ten Springs, so called from 
the circumstance of there being that number locat- 
ed near together. These springs were discovered 
about the year 1814, on land that then belonged 
to Messrs. John and Ziba Taylor, and considera- 
ble pains were taken at the time to bring them into 
notice. Several of them were opened and secur- 
ed by placing in them wooden boxes to keep out 
the fresh water, and a small bathing house was 
erected close to them. They never, however, ac- 
quired much celebrity, and the property having 
passed into other hands, but little attention is now 
paid to them ; and it is probable, from their prox- 
imity to those so distinguished, that they will nev- 
er rise into much consequence. 

These springs are situated, like most of the oth- 
ers that have already been described, in a soil com- 
posed of argillaceous earth and sand, combined 
with the usual deposits, (iron and lime ;) and they 
likewise contain the same constituent properties, 
differing only in the quantities of the articles which 



152 TEN SPRINGS. 

they respectively hold in solution. Some of them 
are considerably saline, and being saturated with 
carbonic acid gas, they constitute a very pleasant 
beverage, and are much used by those who reside 
near by, both as a common drink and as a medi- 
cine. 



ELLIS 5 SPRING,, 



About two miles from the Congress Springs 
in a southwest direction, on land belonging to the 
heirs of the late Robert Ellis, is another mineral 
fountain which deserves notice. It is situated in 
a deep valley on the side of one of the principal 
branches of the Kayaderosseras creek, the banks 
of which, at this place, rise nearly fifty feet above 
its bed, and are frequently indented by deep ra- 
vines which open into the creek. The side of one 
of these ravines having been denuded for the pur- 
pose of erecting mills, furnishes a favorable oppor- 
tunity for inspecting its structure ; the arrange- 
ment of which is as follows : First, 

A mixture of clay and gravel, 2 feet. 

Coarse gravel and sand, with a great varie- 
ty of small stones, generally smooth, 4 

At the bottom of this stratum issues a spring 
of very pure water, which is never dry, 
and retains a temperature of 50 deg. 

Coarse- gravel, sand and clay, with paving 
stones, g0 



154 ELLIS' SPRING. 

Per-oxide of iron, combined with sand and 

clay, 2 feet. 

Clay and coarse gravel, 4 

Lamellated slate, soft and crumbly, 3 

Coarse gravel and clay, 4 

Lamellated slate to the bed of the rock, 10 

These strata are all placed nearly in a horizon- 
tal position, and are well defined. 

The valley in which the mineral fountain dis- 
covers itself is of a semi-circular form, including 
the area of an acre. 

Differing from all others of the kind, this water 
issues from the bank in a horizontal direction. It 
betrays its character the moment it approaches 
the surface, by its sparkling appearance, and the 
deposit of its iron, which stains the walls of the 
little rill, as it trickles down the declivity to the 
marsh, a few feet below, where it has formed a 
compact rocky substance, resembling in all re- 
spects, the tufa before described. 

The water is remarkably clear ; its taste is 
acidulous and chalybeate, and its temperature is 
48 deg. It affords 316 grains of solid contents to 
a gallon, which contents consist of marine salt, 



ELLIS' SPRING. 155 

carbonate of soda, lime, magnesia and iron ; the 
last of which it affords in as great abundance as 
any of the mineral waters either at Saratoga or 
Ballston. It is indeed a very excellent chalybeate 
water ; and as such it is in high estimation, al- 
though, in consequence of its remote situation* it 
is but seldom resorted to. 



QUAKER SPRINGS. 



In addition to the springs already noticed, there 
are several others which belong to the same class, 
situated in the town of Saratoga, about ten miles 
in a southeast direction from the Congress Spring ; 
they are called the Quaker Springs. 

These springs make their appearance through a 
bed of argillaceous marl, at the bottom of a deep 
valley, surrounded by gray-wacke and argilla- 
ceous slate. They contain lime, magnesia and 
iron, held in solution by the carbonic acid, and 
like the others, they likewise contain a portion of 
common salt and soda. Their gaseous contents are 
very small in comparison with those already de- 
scribed ; and their mineral impregnation is not 
sufficient to entitle them to much attention, and 
they are of course but little resorted to. 



BALLSTON SPA, 



The village of Ballston Spa is situated about 
six miles in a southwest direction from the vil- 
lage of Saratoga Springs, in the southeast part of 
the town of Milton, and but a few rods from the 
north line of the town of Ballston. The great re- 
sort to this place, on account of its mineral wa- 
ters, has made it like those of Saratoga, a place of 
much notoriety. 

The mineral springs are situated in a marsh at 
the bottom of a deep valley, through which one of 
the principal branches of the Kayaderosseras creek 
passes. They were first discovered during the 
survey and partition of the patent of Kayaderos- 
seras in 1769 ; and about the same time the Rev. 
Eliphalet Ball, from Bedford, Westchester coun- 
ty, with a number of his congregation, settled 
about two miles and a half from the Springs in a 
southerly direction, on a tract of land, which was 
set apart and sold to defray the expenses of the 
company in surveying the patent ; and which, 
o 



158 BALLSTON SPA. 

from that time, has been distinguished by the name 
of Ballston. 



In 1772, one Peter Ferris purchased and settled 
on a hundred acre lot, the second west from the 
springs ; and about the same time Benajah Doug- 
lass, who had resided some time previous near 
Lebanon Springs, (which at that time had become 
a place of some resort,) entertaining the belief 
that the springs at Ballston might become a wa- 
tering place of some consequence, purchased a 
lot of one hundred acres adjacent to and directly 
west of the then principal spring, near which he 
erected a small log house for the accommodation 
of visitants. Encouraged by the success of this 
small beginning, Mr. Douglass, a few years after, 
was induced to build a small frame house across 
the creek, on the flat opposite the spring. At 
this period the waters had acquired a reputation 
of considerable notoriety, and they began to be 
resorted to by the inhabitants of the surrounding 
country, particularly from the city of Albany and 
the settlements along the valley of the Mohawk. 
Many came with their waggons, bringing their own 
provisions and forage, and staying several, days, 
substituting the waggon for a boarding house. Af- 
ter the commencement of the war of the revolu- 
tion, the settlement of the country was suspended, 



BALLSTON SPA. 159 

and very little improvement was made at these 
springs until after the treaty of peace was con- 
cluded. 

In 1791, Mr. Douglass erected a large building 
for the accommodation of visitants, the same which 
now constitutes the front of the excellent and well 
known establishment owned and kept by Mr. Al- 
dridge. In 1792, Nicholas Low, Esq. of the city 
of New-York, the then proprietor of the lot on 
which the springs were situated, erected a large 
and commodious house close to the spring, which 
has been kept ever since as a boarding house, and 
has sustained a high reputation, well known as 
McMaster's boarding house. During the ensuing 
ten years, these establishments were much enlarg- 
ed and improved, and several others were erected, 
and the springs now became the resort of great 
numbers of invalids, and also of the wealthy and 
fashionable. 

In 1803, Mr. Low erected that splendid estab- 
lishment so universally known and admired, the 
Sans Souci Hotel, and in the spring of 1804 it 
was furnished and opened for the accommodation 
of visitants. 



160 BALLSTON SPA. 

la 1807, the legislature of the state passed an 
act incorporating the settlement at the springs, 
embracing one mile square, by the name of the 
Village of Ballston Spa. 

About this time several springs were discovered 
in the vicinity of those already known, differing 
but little in their general character, with the ex- 
ception of the Sulphur water, a few feet from the 
spring called Low's Well, and known as one of 
those called the Sans Souci Springs. 

During the latter part of the summer of 1817, 
continued rains had so swollen the small stream 
which passes through the village, that it burst over 
its usual bounds, and in some places formed for it- 
self an entire new channel. On the subsiding of 
the flood, a new spring was discovered, exhibiting 
an appearance which, connected with its medicin- 
al properties, gave for a time much additional ce- 
ebrity to the place. It was situated some rods be- 
low what was called the Public Well, and in what 
was, during the freshet, the bed of the stream. It 
issued from a circular opening of several feet in 
diameter, affording an immense quantity of water, 
attended with all the characteristics of a strong 
mineral impregnation. 



BALLSTON SPA. 161 

With a view to prevent the connection of the 
water with the stratum of clay through which it 
passed up to the surface, and likewise to prevent 
the intrusion of fresh water, a tube was ingenious- 
ly constructed and forced into the aperture from 
whence the water arose, to the depth of nearly 
thirty feet In this tube the water arose about five 
feet above the level of the brook, and was then 
suffered to fall over its sides, producing in some 
measure the effect of a jet cPeau, while the surface 
of the spring was brought nearly to a level with 
the eye, furnishing a fine opportunity for inspect- 
ing its sparkling properties to the greatest advan- 
tage. Close to the side of this tube another was 
inserted, not however to so great a depth, through 
which the water arose somewhat above the surface 
of the earth, and was then suffered to escape. 

It was not a little singular that the waters of these 
two wells, apparently issuing from the same source, 
should have contained different portions of the mu- 
riate of soda, while they very nearly corresponded 
in all the other articles which they contained. 

The water which flowed from these tubes, com- 
bined with that which came up in the aperture 
around them, ran off in a stream at the- rate of 
more than a barrel a minute. It commenced the 
o 2 



162 BALLSTON SPA. 

deposit of its chalybeate and calcareous properties 
the moment it came in contact with the atmos- 
phere, and the quantity given off by so large a 
bulk of water continued to mark its passage along 
the brook into which it passed for the distance of 
more than a mile. 

This singular fountain continued about two 
years, the wonder and admiration of all who saw 
it and drank of its waters. At length, however, 
the abundant carbonic acid seemed to be exhaust- 
ed, or to have taken some other course, and all 
attempts to reclaim it have as yet proved fruitless. 
The water still continues to flow in abundance, 
but retaining little or none of its mineral proper- 
ties excepting its iron, which it still continues to 
hold in solution in considerable quantities. This 
was called the Washington Spring. 

Not long after the first appearance of the last 
mentioned spring, it was thought by many that the 
old spring or public well on the flat had suffered a 
deterioration, there being evidently a much less 
evolution of uncombined gas than usual, and it is 
not improbable that the immense quantity of gas 
discharged at the place referred to might have op- 
erated to produce the apparent diminution at the 
old spring ; the failure, however, has been by 



BALLSTON SPA. 163 

some attributed to other causes. A desire to im- 
prove the condition and appearance of the well, 
about the same time, induced an officious inter- 
ference with its situation, which better reflection 
and more experience would probably have caus- 
ed to be omitted. These facts are recorded mere- 
ly as matter of history, leaving the inferences 
to be confirmed or otherwise by future events. 
The water of the old spring, although it has suf- 
fered some in the public estimation, and is cer- 
tainly not quite so palatable as formerly, is still an 
excellent tonic, sitting more easy and light on the 
stomachs of many than the waters of some of the 
other springs, which are more highly charged with 
the carbonic acid gas, which has the effect some 
times to produce distention of the stomach, and 
consequent vertigo and pain in the head. 

In the year 1822, on removing an old floor and 
other rubbish under a building attached to the 
bathing house, a spring was discovered, or rather 
reclaimed, (for its existence had been known many 
years before,) apparently more saline than any 
which the place afforded ; it now constitutes one 
of those called the Sans Souci Springs, and is sit- 
uated about equi-distant from the one originally 
called Loufs Well and the Sulphur Spring. It 
is now the spring mostly resorted to, particularly 



164 BALLSTON SPA. 

by those who take the water as a beverage, or 
who desire its cathartic effect. 

In the spring of 1827 an effort was made by a 
number of enterprising individuals to explore, by 
boring, the interior of the slate formation, with a 
view to obtain a further supply of mineral water 
at this place. To effect the object, a machine, in- 
vented for the purpose by Mr. Disbrow of New- 
Jersey, was procured, and operations were com- 
menced on the flat nearly opposite to Aldridge's 
boarding house. The boring was begun in the 
bottom of a public well that had been previously 
sunk to the depth of fourteen feet, eight of which 
were in the rock. At the depth of about eighty 
feet a vein of mineral water was discovered ; a 
tube was fitted to the hole in the rock of sufficient 
length to extend a little above the surface of the 
earth, and the water immediately rose to the top 
of this tube and escaped in a copious stream, af- 
fording an ample supply of a lively acidulous water. 
The excavation, however, was continued to the 
depth of one hundred and thirty-seven feet, but 
without any considerable addition to the water, 
either in quantity or quality, except a slight sul- 
phurous impregnation. This spring has been 
named the JVeio Washington Fountain. 



BALLSTON SPA. 165 

Not long after the completion and establishment 
of this fountain, a most singular incident occurred 
that is thought worthy to be recorded. It explod- 
ed, with a loud noise and with such force as to 
throw the whole column of water contained in the 
well many feet into the air, leaving a distinct sul- 
phurous odour, which continued for some minutes 
diffused in the surrounding atmosphere. The 
spring for a short time appeared entirely empty ; 
but it soon filled again and resumed its original ap- 
pearance, and has ever since continued to flow 
from a basin, which is now fixed to the top of the 
fountain. It is somewhat singular, that since the 
explosion, the sulphurous impregnation of the wa- 
ter of this spring has nearly or quite disappeared. 

During the succeeding winter a similar experi- 
ment of boring was made, with nearly similar re- 
sults, in a place called The Park, a little west from 
the Sans Souci and directly in the rear of the Vil- 
lage Hotel. The rock was struck at the depth of 
about thirty feet^ through a bed of dark blue argil- 
laceous marl. At about the same depth in the 
rock as in the former instance, a vein of mineral 
water was met with, very much resembling that of 
the last described fountain. The boring, howev- 
er, was continued to the depth of two hundred and 
seventy feet, being about two hundred and forty 



166 BALLST0N SPA. 

feet in the argillaceous or transition slate, which 
at this place forms the bottom of the valley in 
which all the above described springs are situated. 

From the aperture thus formed, the water of 
this fountain now flows in great abundance, rising 
several feet above the surface of the earth, and pre- 
senting a beautiful little pool, which is tastefully 
displayed in a small basin secured to the top of 
the tube which conducts the water to the surface. 
It is an acidulous chalybeate of the first order, and 
must be regarded as an interesting and important 
acquisition to the place. It has received the dis- 
tinctive appellation of the Park Spring. 

These waters evidently belong to the same class 
with those already described at Saratoga ; and if 
they do not contain quite so large a proportion of 
the saline properties as some of the fountains at 
the latter place, which is very manifest both from 
the taste and the effects, they are unquestiona- 
bly entitled to rank among the best acidulous cha- 
lybeate waters which this or any other country af- 
fords. 

In order to examine these waters analytically, 
a quantity from eaeh spring was secured at the 
fountain in well stopped bottles, conveyed to the 



BALLSTON SPA. 167 

place of examination, and immediately submitted 
to the operation of tests. The whole of the ex- 
periments, both to determine the properties and to 
separate the different ingredients, were conducted 
in the same manner and upon the same principles 
as previously detailed in the examination of the 
Congress water ; and the indications being in all 
respects the same, there occurring no perceptible 
difference other than what would naturally be sup- 
posed to result from the greater or less quantity of 
the various articles held in solution by each, it is 
not deemed necessary to recapitulate the dry de- 
tails of these experiments in this place. 

A quantity of the gas was procured from the wa- 
ter of each fountain, and submitted to the process 
of examination in the same manner as heretofore 
related at page 94. It was found, like that procur- 
ed from the water at Saratoga Springs, to consist 
of pure carbonic acid, with an admixture of a small 
quantity of atmospheric air. 

From repeated experiments on the water pro- 
cured from the several springs at this place, there 
can be no doubt that they all contain considerable 
more than their bulk of carbonic acid gas ; but 
not having the necessary materials for making the 
examinations on the spot, and the certainty that 



168 BALLSTON SPA. 

the water parts with & considerable portion of the 
gas from being bottled, however carefully it may 
be done, no attempt was made to estimate with ac- 
curacy the amount of its gaseous product. 

With these general remarks on the history, 
properties and character of the mineral waters at 
Ballston Spa, I shall now proceed to a particular 
examination of some of the principal fountains, or 
such as have from their medical properties acquir- 
ed the most .celebrity, 



SANS SOUCI SPRING. 



This spring is situated immediately in the rear 
of the Sans Souci, and is more familiarly known 
by the name of " Jack's Spring." Its history has 
been already related in the general remarks. Its 
water is sparkling and acidulous, and its taste high- 
ly chalybeate and somewhat saline. 

The water from which the following analysis 
was made was procured from the spring in the 
fore part of the month of February, 1830, and dur- 
ing the winter following, 1831, the examination was 
repeated on different quantities of the water, with 
results perfectly corresponding. The processes 
adopted for determining and separating the various 
ingredients were the same in all respects as those 
detailed in the exam: nation of the Congress water, 
a repetition of which is altogether unnecessary. 

The temperature of the water at the bottom of 
the well, at a time when the thermometer stood in 
the open air at 20 deg. above zero, was 50 deg., 
and its specific gravity at the temperature of 60 
deg. was 1005.7, pure water being 1000. 



170 SANS SOUCI SPRING. 

One gallon, or 231 cubic inches, of the water 
from this spring contains the following substan- 
ces, viz. 

Chloride of Sodium, 143.733 



Bi-carbonate of Soda, 


12.66 


Bi-carbonate of Magnesia, 


39.1 


Carbonate of Lime, 


43.407 


Carbonate of Iron, 


5.95 


Hydriodate of Soda, 


1.3 


Silix, 


1. 


Solid contents in a gallon, 


247.15 grs 



I have omitted to mention the presence of the 
hydro-bromate of potash in the above enumeration 
of the ingredients, because that substance is not 
satisfactorily indicated in one gallon of the water, 
as is the case with the same article in some of the 
springs at Saratoga ; but I have no doubt, that by 
concentrating a much larger portion of the water, 
its presence might have been demonstrated. This 
substance, together with that of the hydriodate of 
soda, seems in some way connected with the ma- 
rine salt, the quantity being increased or diminish- 
ed according as that salt is afforded in a greater or 
less abundance. The hydriodate of soda appears 
to be in the proportion of about one to a hundred 



BALLSTON SPA. 171 

of the chloride of sodium, while the proportion of 
the hydro-bromate of potash is much less, and is 
scarcely to be detected in those waters that con- 
tain the greatest quantity of the marine salt; and 
in those which contain a much less quantity, it can 
only be demonstrated by concentrating several gal- 
lons of the water. 



LOW'S SPRING* 



This spring is situated near to the one just de- 
scribed, and its appearance and sensible proper- 
ties are certainly not very dissimilar to it. Its spe- 
cific gravity and its temperature, at the time I ex- 
amined them, were the same ; and as the applica- 
tion of re-agents indicated no essential difference 
in their constituent properties, they may with great 
propriety be presumed to be the same, or very 
nearly the same water» 



PARK SPRING. 



This fountain is situated in the immediate neigh- 
borhood of the two last described springs, in the 
rear of the Village Hotel. Its situation and histo- 
ry have already been described. The specific grav- 
ity is considerably less than that of either of the 
other two springs, and from the analysis, it affords 
a much less quantity of all the saline substances 
excepting the iron, with which this water is un- 
doubtedly saturated. From one gallon I obtained 
4.5 grains of the pure oxide of iron, equivalent to 
6 1 grains of the carbonate of iron, (a quantity un- 
exampled in any of the other springs ; ) and the 
water not holding so large a quantity of the saline 
ingredients in solution, it constitutes one of the 
purest and best simple acidulous chalybeate waters 
which can any where be found ; and in kll cases 
where simple chalybeates alone are recommended, 
this water should undoubtedly have th& preference. 

p2 



THE PUBLIC WELL. 



This spring is situated near the centre of the 
village, on the flat ground nearly opposite to Al- 
dridge's boarding house. It was formerly the 
most distinguished of any which the place afford- 
ed, and it was ornamented and secured with a 
handsome iron paling and marble floor ; but un- 
der an apprehension that the spring had suffered 
in its properties from the great pressure occasion- 
ed by these heavy stones, they have been removed 
without benefitting the water, and certainly without 
adding any thing to the beauty of the place. 

Notwithstanding that this spring has, within a 
few years, suffered considerably in the estimation 
of the public, it is still much used, and is undoubt- 
edly an excellent chalybeate water. 

It has been generally asserted that " Sir Wil- 
liam Johnson, in conveying the land at this place 
to individuals, reserved this spring for the benevo- 
lent purpose of serving the public." Where this 
story came from originally is not easy to tell ; it is 
certain that Sir William never owned any land in 



BALLSTON SPA. 175 

the vicinity of either of the springs. The title un- 
der which the lands at this place are held was ob- 
tained from the representatives of May Bickley, 
one of the original patentees, over which Sir Wil- 
liam never had even the control of an agency. 



THE NEW WASHINGTON SPRING. 



This spring, like that last noticed, is situated in 
the street, a few rods distant, in a southerly direc- 
tion. 

The water submitted to examination was pro- 
cured from the fountain in the month of February, 
1831, and different portions of it were carefully 
examined under the same rules and regulations as 
already described. Its specific gravity is 1004.6, 
pure water being 1000, and its temperature 51 
deg. ; and one gallon contains the following arti- 
cles, viz. 



Chloride of Sodium, 


89.83 


Bi-carbonate of Soda, 


18.057 


Bi-carbonate of Magnesia, 


42.042 


Carbonate of Lime, 


41.51 


Hydriadate of Soda, 


0.7 


Carbonate of Iron, 


3.71 


Silix and Alumine, 


lv25 



Solid contents in a gallon, gr. 197.099 



BALLSTON SPA. 177 

This well when it was first opened emitted a 
perceptible quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen, but 
it has now nearly or quite disappeared, particu- 
larly since the memorable event of its eruption, as 
before noticed. The gas, which it now emits in 
great abundance, is purely carbonic acid, probably 
combined with a small quantity of atmospheric air. 

All these waters, if drank in large quantities, 
or taken by persons whose stomachs are rather 
irritable, operate as an aperient, and at the same 
time have a powerful effect as a diuretic, and are 
of eminent service in all those chronic affections 
where chalybeate medicines are indicated. 



SULPHUREOUS WATERS. 



Besides the acidulous saline chalybeate waters 
so bountifully bestowed on this county, there are 
several other mineral fountains of a different char- 
acter ; I allude to those springs which belong to 
the class termed sulphureous waters. There are 
several of this class which occur in the vicinity of 
the argillaceous slate formation, and they very 
probably owe their orign to the decomposition of 
the iron pyrites, or sulphuret of iron which abounds 
in this rock. 

By far the most interesting and important spring 
belonging to this class is situated on the east bor- 
der of Saratoga Lake, on a farm belonging to a 
Mr. Abel, about one mile south of Snake Hill, at 
the bottom of a deep ravine, which opens to the 
lake, and discloses a fine view of that beautiful 
sheet of water. The well is situated but a few 
yards from the beach ; the water rises up through 
a bed of argillaceous marl, and diffuses its sul- 
phureous adour in the atmosphere to some dis- 
tance around. 



SULPHUREOUS WATERS. 179 

The water is very limpid when first dipped, but 
on standing some time it deposits a small quantity 
of argillaceous earth, which when thrown on igni- 
ted coals, exhibits evidences of sulphur. This 
sediment is likewise deposited around the spring 
and along the course of its current. 

It has a strong sulphureous and feted smell, 
nearly resembling that of bilge water, and it pos- 
sesses an offensive nauseous taste ; it however be- 
comes more palatable after drinking it a few times. 

Strips of litmus paper plunged into this water 
fresh from the spring are slightly reddened by it, 
but the paper resumes its blue colour on drying. 

Characters traced on paper with a solution of 
the acetate of lead, when plunged into water fresh 
from the spring, become nearly black, and they 
are made legible on suspending the paper a few 
minutes over the fountain. 

Polished silver is immediately tarnished by im- 
mersing it in the water, and silver watches worn 
in the pockets of those who are in the daily use of 
it are said to be blackened by it. 



180 SULPHUREOUS WATERS. 

The usual tests do not indicate the presence of 
any metalic substance in this water, nor are there 
any indications of lime, magnesia or marine salt ; 
the constituent properties are purely sulphuretted 
hydrogen, together with a small quantity of alu- 
mine, which is diffused in it, but not in sufficient 
quantity to render it turbid. 

Its temperature is 48 deg., and its specific grav- 
ity is but very little above that of pure water. 

Doctors Armstrong and Johnson have lately 
given a new impulse to the use of sulphureous 
waters in the cure of visceral congestions and 
chronic affections of the digestive organs; and it 
is highly probable that a free internal use of the 
water of this spring, connected with some mild 
laxative medicine, will be found highly serviceable 
in a great variety of those afflictive complaints. 

Baths might easily be constructed here, and the 
water conducted directly into them from the foun- 
tain, which produces a sufficient quantity for a 
constant supply. Bathing in waters of this de- 
scription has long been celebrated for its efficacy 
in the cure of a great variety of eruptive and other 
diseases of the skin ; and it is highly probable that 
this spring will ultimately become an important ap- 



SULPHUREOUS WATERS. 181 

pendage to the distinguished waters of Saratoga 
and Ballston, from either of which it is but a few 
miles distant, and the ride includes all the variety 
of scenery presented by the lake and its environs. 

In the valley of one of the branches of the Kay- 
aderosseras creek, about two miles westerly from 
the village of Saratoga Springs, is another strongly 
scented sulphureous spring ; it rises perpendicular- 
ly from the earth in a stream sufficient to turn a 
mill, at the bottom of a steep bank, composed of 
sand, clay and coarse gravel 

The approach to this spring is discovered at 
the distance of some yards, by the sulphureous 
odour with which it impregnates the atmosphere. 
The water is clear, and but triflingly agitated by 
the escape of gas ; its taste is unpleasant, not un- 
like the washings of a rusty gun barrel. It depos- 
its a brown sediment, which marks its passage to 
the creek, a distance of one hundred yards. 

Its temperature is 50 deg. while that of a foun- 
tain of pure water which issues from the same 
bank in a horizontal direction, and within ten feet 
of it, is at 46 deg. 



182 SULPHUREOUS WATERS. 

In addition to the sulphuretted hydrogen which 
this water affords, it contains a small proportion 
of carbonic acid gas, and is slightly impregnated 
with marine salt, iron and lime. It is highly ex- 
tolled for its efficacy in the cure of eruptive diseas- 
es, for which it is used, both internally and exter- 
nally ; but owing to its remote situation, and the 
want of proper accommodations, it is but little re- 
sorted to at present. 

At Ballston Spa, situated within a few feet of 
the Sans Souci fountain, there is a spring which 
has received the name of the Sulphur Spring. It 
is a weak, saline chalybeate, containing a small 
quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which is 
sufficiently apparent both from the smell and taste. 
Its sulphureous impregnation, however, does not 
appear to be sufficient to make it very important 
on that account. It is much used for bathing, and 
is recommended and used in a great variety of cu- 
taneous affections. 



PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS 

OS THE 

MEDICAL PROPERTIES 

OF 

THE WATERS. 



I shall conclude my remarks on the waters of 
these fountains, by a few general observations on 
their medical properties, and their application in 
the various diseases for which they have become so 
deservedly celebrated. 

These waters are so generally used, and their 
effects so seldom injurious, particularly to persons 
in health, that almost every one who has ever 
drank of them assumes the prerogative of direct- 
ing their use to others ; and were these direc- 
tions always the result of experience and obser- 
vation, they would certainly be less objectionable ; 
but there are numerous persons who flock about 
the springs during the drinking season, without 
any knowledge of the composition of the waters, 
and little or none of their effects, who contrive to 



184 MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 

dispose of their directions to the ignorant and un- 
wary, with no other effect than to injure the repu- 
tation of the water and destroy the prospects of 
the diseased. 

Many persons who resort to the springs for the 
restoration of health, seem to be governed by the 
idea, that they are to recover in proportion to the 
quantity they drink ; and, although many who are 
in health may, and frequently do, swallow down 
enormous quantities of the water with apparent 
impunity, it by no means follows that those whose 
stomachs are enfeebled by disease can take the 
same quantity with the same effect. Stomachs of 
this description frequently reject large portions of 
the water, and thereby protect the system from 
the disastrous consequences that would otherwise 
follow. But when it happens to be retained, the 
result is indeed distressing ; the pulse becomes 
quick and feeble, the extremities cold, the head 
painful and dizzy, the bowels swollen and tender, 
and the whole train of nervous affections alarming- 
ly increased ; and should the unfortunate sufferer 
survive the effects of his imprudence, it is only to 
a renewal of his worst apprehensions, from a loss 
of confidence in what he most probably consider- 
ed a last resort. 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 185 

In directing the use of the waters, I shall con- 
fine my remarks to a few observations on their 
medical application, of a general character only ; 
particular directions can only be given with safety 
to the patient from a careful investigation of the 
particular symptoms, character and nature of the 
complaint. 

Among the great variety of invalids who resort 
to the springs, none perhaps receive more essen- 
tial and effectual benefit from their use than those 
usually termed bilious. 

In all those affections usually termed bilious, if 
the attack be recent and unattended by any seri- 
ous organic affection, it is most usually removed in 
the course of a few days by a free use of the Con- 
gress water alone ; but in those cases where the 
functions of the stomach and bowels have become 
impaired from the long continuance of the disease, 
attended with anasarcus swellings of the extreme- 
ties, &c. although the waters of this fountain may 
be resorted to with nearly the same assurance of 
obtaining relief, nevertheless more caution is in- 
dispensably necessary in its administration ; for 
should a great quantity of the water be drank with- 
out having the proper effect by the bowels and 
kidneys, it is never beneficial, but on the contrary, 
d2 



186 MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 

frequently increases the most alarming symptoms 
of the complaint. 

In cases of this description, I have long been 
in the habit of recommending the addition of some 
mild cathartic medicine ; and for this purpose a 
few grains of calomel, or the blue pill, are directed 
to be taken over night, followed in the morning by 
a sufficient quantity of the water to move the bow- 
els briskly two or three times, with the happiest 
effect. A few doses of this description usually 
puts the bowels in a situation to be more easily 
wrought upon by the water, and the patient be- 
comes convinced of its efficacy in his disease from 
a few days proper application. 

In the more advanced stages of bilious affec- 
tions, where the organization of the liver and oth- 
er viscera have materially suffered, and the dispo- 
sition to general hydrops, indicated by the enlarge- 
ment of the extremities, fullness of the abdomen, 
&c. the waters are all of them manifestly injuri- 
ous, and are not to be admitted, even as an auxil- 
iary remedy. 

In all those functional affections of the organs 
employed in the process of digestion, constituting 
what is usually termed dyspepsia, the waters have 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 187 

long maintained a high and deserved reputation. 
The Congress water is principally relied on for 
the cure of these affections. This should be taken 
in the morning, an hour or two before breakfast, 
in sufficient quantity to move the bowels freely 
once or twice. In ordinary cases, four or five 
tumblers full are sufficient for the purpose; and in 
weak irritable habits, half the quantity, or a single 
tumbler full in some cases, is amply sufficient to 
answer the purpose. 

In those cases where the bowels are attended 
with an habitual constipation, the large quantity of 
water required to move them often produces un- 
pleasant distention of the stomach and bowels, and 
by producing cold chills and nausea, frequently 
defeats the general intention of its application. 
This, in some instances, may be remedied by sim- 
ply elevating the temperature of the water by 
keeping it for some hours in well stopped bottles 
in a warm room. When this fails, recourse may 
be had to some suitable laxative, which should be 
taken over night on going to v bed ; and a much less 
quantity of the water in the morning will answer 
the wishes of the patient, without subjecting him to 
any very great inconvenience. Or, if circumstan- 
ces require a still greater effect, a little epsom, or 
some other laxative salt, may be added to the first 



188 MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 

glass of the water. In this way the difficulty will 
soon be overcome, when a much less quantity of 
the water will be found to answer the purpose. 

But the Congress water is not alone to be de- 
pended on for the removal of these affections : 
when the stomach and bowels have been properly 
cleansed by the mild and innocent purgative prop- 
erties of this water, for which purpose it is to be 
drank only in the morning, the remainder of the 
day should be devoted to the moderate and dis- 
creet use of some of the more pure chalybeate 
waters : as that of the Flat Rock, Columbian, 
High Rock, Ellis 9 Spring, or Ballston Spa. 

The quantity of water from either of these foun- 
tains, to be used daily, must necessarily depend in 
a great measure on the state of the disease and the 
condition of the stomach. It is therefore best to 
commence their use in. small quantities at a time, 
and at distant and regular intervals ; gradually in- 
creasing the quantity and frequency of the draught, 
as may be most agreeable to the stomach, and 
least unpleasant to the feelings. In this way the 
quantity may be increased to from one to two 
quarts ; and it is questionable whether a much 
larger quantity may be drank with any additional 
advantage. 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 189 

The use of chalybeate medicines in the cure of 
the deranged state of the digestive organs has 
seldom been directed, except in conjunction with 
laxatives of some kind ; and it is now a subject of 
speculation with some of our best and well inform- 
ed practitioners, whether the cure might not be 
as expeditiously effected by the judicious adminis- 
tration of laxatives alone. It is certain that three 
fourths of the cases usually termed dyspeptic, 
which congregate at these springs during the drink- 
ing season, owe their origin to the ill-timed admin- 
i tration*of chalybeates and other tonic remedies, 
prescribed for the purpose of bracing up what was 
supposed to be a debilitated stomach ; or in more 
familiar terms, " to wind up a ran down constitu- 
tion" 

" From long and unbiassed observation," says 
the venerable Doct. Armstrong, " I am fully con- 
vinced that most of the medicines called tonics are 
either useless or pernicious ; and if these were 
erased from the pharmacopoeias, it would be a re- 
al benefit to the profession and mankind ; for they 
only serve to mislesd the former, and to tantalize 
or injure the latter. Tonic medicines generally 
oppress the digestive functions, or operate as di- 
rect stimulants, and in either case they are improp- 
er in convalescence ; for by the first they may de- 



190 MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 

stroy the natural appetite, and by the last they may 
lead to chronic inflammations. So far from such 
drugs being appropriate to a stage of convales- 
cence from acute disease, mild laxatives are most 
frequently requisite to preserve a right balance be- 
tween the ingesta and the egesta ; and the practi- 
tioner who substitutes the former will find that his 
patients will pass better through convalescence, 
and be afterwards far less subject to consecutive 
attacks of inflammation." These remarks are so 
much in accordance with my own experience and 
observation, that I could not forego the opportu- 
nity of transcribing them here. 

But whether the tonic medicines be or be not 
appropriate in the cure of the deranged state of the 
digestive organs, it is certain that the quantity of 
iron found in the water of those fountains which 
contain the largest proportion of that article, is 
quite too trifling to merit a serious consideration 
as a remedy in any disease. That the waters pos- 
sess powerful stimulating and exciting powers can- 
not be disputed ; but whether this property be ow- 
ing to the small portion of iron, as is usually sup- 
posed, which enters into its composition, may very 
rationally be doubted. 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 191 

Conjoined with the internal use of the waters, 
bathing should not be neglected ; its exhilerating 
effect upon the surface of the body contributes 
much to the restoration of the vigor and strength 
of the stomach. The cold shower bath should al- 
ways be preferred where the energy of the circu- 
lation is sufficient to overcome the effects of the 
cold, and produce the sensation of warmth over 
the surface immediately after its application ; 
where this sensation is not produced, the cold bath 
should be dispensed with, and the tepid or warm 
bath substituted in its stead, together with general 
friction with a flesh brush or coarse flannel over 
the whole body. 

The stimulating effects of these waters, arising 
from their saline and gaseous properties, give them 
a decided preference over any other as a bath ; 
and those who are laboring under a deficient or 
irregular action of the cutaneous vessels, arising 
either from a sympathetic affection with a diseased 
stomach, or from an original affection of the ves- 
sels themselves, will find it to their advantage to 
persevere in its use under this form. 

The idea of bathing before sunrise or early in 
the morning is entirely wrong. Before bathing, 
the system should always be invigorated by the ef- 



192 MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 

feet of moderate exercise and a nutricious repast. 
The hour of ten or eleven in the forenoon is there- 
fore the most suitable time for its application. 

In calculous and nephritic complaints the 
waters have long been celebrated for their efficacy, 
and numerous well attested instances of their good 
effects can be produced, where the disease was not 
only benefitted, but effectually cured. In these 
cases, the subjects of them, after using the water 
for some weeks, voided large quantities of sand 
and small gravel, and have since felt no symptoms 
of the return of the complaint. 

The waters that would seem to promise most in 
these diseases are those which contain the greatest 
quantity of the cerated alkali, but they hare usual- 
ly been drank indiscriminately for this purpose, 
without reference to any particular fountain ; it is 
therefore probable that the carbonic acid, togeth- 
er with the carbonated earths, add something to 
the liihontriptic properties of these waters. 

They should be drank in such quantities as to 
keep the bowels open, and repeated sufficiently 
often to keep up an increased secretion by the kid- 
neys. 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 



193 



The warm bath, as an auxiliary to the internal 
use of the waters, is of much importance ; it great- 
ly facilitates the passage of the ragged fragments 
of gravel which sometimes take place from the ef- 
fect of this remedy. Its temperature should be 
from 100 to 110 deg. and the length of time 
proper for continuing it should be from one to two 
hours. 

In chronic rheumatism, the virtues of the 
waters were known, and celebrated, by the abo- 
rigines ; and the observations of more modern 
visitants have tended greatly to confirm the good 
opinion entertained by the original proprietors. 
The Congress water has the most celebrity in this 
disease : it should be taken in the morning, in suf- 
ficient quantities to move the bowels two or three 
times, and followed by moderate draughts of some 
of the other fountains ; and in most instances, the 
shower bath will add much to the efficacy of the 
water. Following this course for a length of time 
gradually relaxes the rigidity of the muscles, adds 
strength and facility of motion to the diseased 
joints, and restores ease and vigor to the whole 
system. 

The anthritis, or gout, has but seldom ap- 
peared at the Springs. Whether this absence is to 



194 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 



be imputed to the few cases that, comparatively 
speaking, occur in our country, or to a prevailing 
opinion, that the use of the waters would be inju- 
rious, is uncertain. If, however, one may be allow- 
ed to judge from the few cases which have appear- 
ed at the waters, there is some reason to believe 
they may prove highly serviceable, particularly in 
the incipient or forming stage of the complaint ; 
but in those cases where the disease has become 
confirmed, and the system, for a long time, has 
been subjected to a course of powerful stimulants, 
the operation of the waters is more doubtful ; and 
indeed several instances have occurred where 
their use evidently tended to invite a recurrence 
of the paroxysms. 

In PHAGEDENIC, Or ILL-CONDITIONED ULCERS 

of the extremities, perhaps no application has ever 
been attended with more effectual benefit in a va- 
riety of these affections than a free use of the wa- 
ters ; but the various forms and circumstances un- 
der which this afflictive complaint presents itself 
require particular attention, as they form the only 
criterion for a proper application of this highly use- 
ful remedy. 

Persons afflicted with obstinate and painful cu- 
taneous eruptions derive great and important 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 195 

benefit from a properly directed course of bathing 
and drinking. And in that peculiarly relaxed and 
enfeebled state of the system arising from a long 
protracted mercurial course, the water connected 
with the air and exercises of the country, has ne- 
ver failed of proving an efficacious and speedy re- 
storative. 

Scrofula is another disease for which those 
who are afflicted with it frequently become appli- 
cants to the waters, and experience has abundant- 
ly sanctioned the belief of their utility in that com- 
plaint. 

Before the discovery of Iodine in these waters, 
their operation in the cure of strumous affections 
was considered as somewhat mysterious, but since 
that substance has been demonstrated as forming 
one of the constituent ingredients in the water, the 
mystery has been solved, and the waters are now 
prescribed in these affections with a confidence 
which the important and active properties of this 
interesting* article is calculated to inspire. 

As Iodine is a substance which has been recent- 
ly introduced into the list of valuable remedies, a 
short notice of its historv and medical character 



196 MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 

will not be uninteresting, particularly to the gen- 
eral reader. 



This singular and interesting article was first 
discovered by a manufacturer of saltpetre at Paris, 
no longer ago than 1812. In washing the carbo- 
nate of soda from the ashes of sea-weeds, he ob- 
served that the risidual liquor corroded the metal- 
ic vessels in which it was standing, and on the 
addition of sulphuric acid he obtained a dark col- 
oured precipitate, which was converted into a 
beautiful violet coloured vapour by the applica- 
tion of heat. Some of this substance was put into 
the hands of M. Clement, a distinguished chemist 
of Paris, who soon recognized it as a new body ; 
and in 1813 he first described it in the royal insti- 
tution of France. Sir Humphrey Davy, Gay- 
Lussac, and a number of other distinguished chem- 
ists, have subsequently investigated its chemical 
habitudes, and determined its real nature. 

Iodine, in a pure state at the ordinary tempera- 
ture of the atmosphere, is a soft, friable, opaque 
solid, of a blueish black colour, somewhat resem- 
bling plumbago. It occurs usually in crystalline 
scales ; it sublimes rapidly at a temperature even 
below that of boiling water; and it suffers a grad- 
ual dissipation at a still lower temperature. Its 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 19*7 

vapour is of a rich violet colour, from which cir- 
cumstance it has received the name of Iodine. 
It has a very acrid taste, and a strong offensive 
odour. It acts with great energy on the animal 
system, but may be employed with advantage as a 
medicine in very small doses. 

It unites chemically with oxygen and hydrogen, 
forming the iodic and hydriodic acids ; and these, 
when united with the alkaline, or earthy basis, 
constitute the iodates, or hydriodates ; and in one 
or other of these forms it is usually met with in na- 
ture. 

The hydriodic acid combined with potassa or 
soda, has been detected in many of the brine 
and other mineral springs of Europe. It has like- 
wise been found in sea-water, and a number of 
marine animals ; and it is contained in sponge, and 
a great variety of sea-weed ; and its existence in 
the waters of Saratoga and Ballston Spa, in the 
state of the hydriodate of soda, has been satisfac- 
torily demonstrated. 

As a medicine, Iodine is now believed to pos- 
sess great and important qualities ; and it has been 
introduced as a remedy in the cure of almost eve- 
ry species of chronic affection. It is supposed to 
»2 



198 MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 

exert a special influence over the absorbent or lym- 
phatic system ; and in goitre and scrofula, as well 
as all other indolent enlargement of the glands, it 
has maintained a high and deserved reputation. 
And it is unquestionably owing to the presence of 
this substance that the mineral waters of Saratoga 
are indebted for their great efficacy in the cure of 
strumous affections. 

The fountain which contains the largest propor- 
tion of the hydriodate of soda, should, without 
doubt, be selected by the invalid laboring under 
these afflictions. The water should be commenc- 
ed in small doses, and the quantity gradually in- 
creased, as the stomach will bear it ; and its use 
should be continued, at least, through the summer 
months. There are but few of this description 
who have not received advantage, and numerous 
instances might be adduced where the less serious- 
ly affected have perfectly recovered from a proper 
course of bathing and drinking. 

Bromine* is another substance that has lately 
been discovered as entering into the composition 
of these waters ; and it is not improbable, from 



* This substance was discovered in sea-water, by a French 
chemist in 1826. It is in a liquid state at the common temper- 
ature of the atmosphere ; its color is a blackish red j its odour 



MEDICaL PROPERTIES. 199 

the highly active properties which it is known to 
possess, that in conjunction with iodine, it contri- 
butes to the efficacy of the water in its operation 
on scrofulous and enfeebled habits ; but the ex- 
tremely minute quantity in which it is found for- 
bids the idea of attaching much importance to its 
presence. 

In dropsf, arising from organic derangement 
of long continuance, the waters are manifestly in- 
jurious, as they invariably increase the swelling, 
and add to the sufferings of the patient ; but in re- 
cent cases, where the affection arises simply from 
a deficient action in the absorbent vessels, the wa- 
ter has a singular effect in removing it. It should 
be drank in the morning freely, so as to produce 
a copious discharge from the bowels ; and through 
the day taken in such quantities as to keep up a 
pretty constant discharge of urine. The bloating 
is relieved immediately, and a proper continuance 
of the water will finally establish the permanency 
of the cure. 



is disagreeable, and its taste powerful. It acts with energy on 
organic substances and corrodes the animal texture. It has 
been detected in most of the substances in which iodine has 
been found. It exists in sea-water in the state of the hydro- 
bromate of magnesia, and in the waters of this place it is in the 
state of the hydro-bromate of potassa. 



200 MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 

In paralysis, the waters have been usually 
serviceable. The purgative properties of the Con- 
gress render it the most applicable to this disease ; 
and its good effects are much increased by the use 
of the bath. 

In chlorosis, and a variety of other complaints 
peculiar to the female sex, the waters maintain a 
high and deserved reputation. In most of these 
cases the bowels should be kept open, by the 
use of the more purgative waters ; and those of a 
less purgative character should be persevered in 
for a length of time. Their good effects will be 
much accelerated by frequent bathing and mode- 
rate exercise. 

" The general operation of chalybeates," says 
Dr. Saunders, in his treatise upon the mineral wa- 
ters of Europe, " is to increase the power of the 
secretory system in a gradual uniform manner, 
and at the same time by the permanency of their 
stimulus, or some other cause with which we are 
not well acquainted, to impart a gentle and saluta- 
ry increase to the body, of strength, tone, ner- 
vous energy and general vigor of all the functions. 
It is therefore chiefly in chronic disorders, in those 
that arise from slow beginnings and are attended 
with great laxity and debility of the solids, but 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 201 

without much organic disease, that these waters 
are found to be particularly useful." 

In phthisis, and indeed all other pulmonary 
affections, arising from primary disease of the 
lungs, the waters are evidently injurious, and man- 
ifestly tend to increase the virulence of the dis- 
ease. Their use, therefore, in these complaints, 
as well as in all acute or inflammatory diseases, 
should be strictly prohibited. 

The season of the year most suitable for drink- 
ing the waters is often made a subject of earnest 
inquiry. The summer months, or during the pre- 
valence of warm weather, is undoubtedly the most 
suitable time for their use, as cold drinks are then 
far more agreeable, both to the stomach and pal- 
ate ; and all the secretions and excretions of the 
system, in ordinary cases, are then more readily 
and effectually operated on by the effects of re- 
mediable agents. But what is of still more im- 
portance, the summer season is more particularly 
adapted to a free and unrestrained exercise in the 
open air ; without which a long course of the 
waters would be of but little avail. 

The great number of visitants who frequent 
these watering places during the season for drink- 



202 MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 

ing, are no doubt a source of considerable income 
to the country ; but the annual increase of poor 
invalids, who flock here from all parts of the Uni- 
ted Slates, and are solely dependant upon private 
munificence for their subsistence, is an evil that 
begins to be seriously felt, not only by the inhabi- 
tants, but by strangers, whose benevolence, while 
here, is daily laid under contribution for the sup- 
port of some poor object, who is struggling to ob- 
tain from bountiful nature a renovation of health 
which he has lost, perhaps, in the service of his 
country. This evil can only be properly remedied 
by an interference of the general government ; 
and I cannot omit this opportunity to remind those 
whose business it may be, that the endowment of 
a small hospital at this place, under proper regula- 
tions, would be attended with more beneficent ef- 
fects, and would tend more to ameliorate the con- 
dition of suffering humanity, than the appropria- 
tion of an equivalent sum in any other way could 
possibly produce. 

Much interest has been excited on the subject 
of the source of these singular and interesting 
waters, but no researches have as yet satisfactori- 
ly unfolded the mystery. The large proportion of 
common salt found among their constituent prop- 
erties may be accounted for without much difficul- 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 203 

ty, all the salt springs of Europe as well as those 
of America being found in geological situations 
exactly corresponding to these ; but the production 
of the unexampled quantity of carbonic acid gas, 
the medium through which the other articles are 
principally retained in solution, is yet, and probably 
will remain, a subject of mere speculation. The 
low and regular temperature of the water seems 
to forbid the idea that it is the effect of subterra- 
nean heat, as many have supposed, and the total 
absence of any mineral acid, excepting the marine 
which is combined with soda, does away the pos- 
sibility of its being the effect of any combination 
of that kind. Its production is therefore truly un- 
accountable. 



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